ALBUM REVIEW: Liz Cass - The Words
Liz Cass has created a beautiful album of gentle synths, hypnotic vocals and thoughtful songwriting. "The Words" is one of the most captivating records I've heard this year. It's completely flawless.
From the first track "Confessional" with its up-tempo 80's vibe "The Words" draws you in and with each track you sink deeper into the sounds and the feelings.
The record is haunting and sophisticated; the tone and range in Liz's voice is spellbinding. I'm not normally a fan of heavy synthesisers but the balance between the music and the vocals is perfect, they sparkle beneath rather than taking over and becoming the focal point.
The lyrics on "The Words" are both heartbreaking and relevant, they're like a tale of confusion and uncertainty. Detailing the fickle nature of people particularly within relationships. How they give mixed signals, sucking you in until you feel you can't live without then pushing you away. There's a feeling of hopelessness and yearning, the desire for stability.
Musically I'd loosely describe "The Words" as pop but it's so much more than that, it certainly not bubblegum and throw away. It's a record that really allows you to make a deep heartfelt connection. There's elements of RnB, an occasional indie-esque feel while 'Blue' is trip-hop infused with screaming likenesses to Massive Attack. Liz takes on an Amy Winehouse style vocal on 'Dust'. There's a retro feel to the whole album which adds to its depth and interest.
My album highlight is 'Near Miss'. It has a groovy, catchy sound and showcases Liz's vocal range beautifully. It really encapsulates the notion of the record; dependency, desire, confusion, longing with words "last night you're saying yes now you're telling me no" particularly standing out to me as manifesting the tumultuous nature of romance.
To summarise, Liz Cass has crafted a record that is nothing short of perfect, and to think when I first switched it on I was concerned it wouldn't be "my thing". One of my albums of 2022!
