Lianne La Havas
Is Your Love Big Enough?
- Warner Music UK
- July 9. 2012 (UK)
- August 7. 2012 (US)
After sharing the stage with Keane, Lana Del Rey, Basement Jaxx, and Aloe Blacc at Soho House’s House Festival in Chiswick last month, Lianne La Havas' official debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough? is finally available here in North America. With three critically acclaimed EPs to her credit as well as a nomination for the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll, Lianne's debut album is yet another milestone in what appears to be an already impressive and ever promising career.
The UK chanteuse distances herself from her contemporaries with her amalgamation of jazz, folk and soul and her keen attention to detail in her songwriting and music. The album's title track "Is Your Love Big Enough?" is a lively soulful number peppered with claps and tambourine and Lianne's buttery vocals.
The album's standout single "No Room For Doubt", which originally was included on Lianne's Lost & Found EP, is a beautifully moving duet with American folk singer Willy Mason. The single's charm is derived from the juxtaposition of La Havas’ honeyed vocals with Mason’s gruff, weathered vocals.
At the ripe young age of 22, Lianne's lyrics resonate with a sense of maturity beyond her years. On "Gone" she reasons that "Love is not blind, it's just deaf and it is dumb" as she vocally emotes her way through the powerful song.
With Is Your Love Big Enough? the young vocalist offers an exciting and skillfully delivered debut that blends alternative folk and soul rather seamlessly. In addition to the 12 tracks included on the album, the deluxe edition includes an additional five songs, all of which I highly recommend shelling out the extra money for. Is Your Love Big Enough? is available now via Warner Music on iTunes.
