Lizzie Nunnery's debut ep features five exceptionally innovative and classy songs that are quietly reminiscent of some equally classy and innovative artists like Kate Bush, Martha Wainwright, and Kathryn Williams and for all the right reasons. Her songwriting style lends itself to naturally objective subjective views and perceptions with a great deal of attention paid to the details of the arrangements and also in how best to vocalize meaning and emphasis for the lyrics. Monkeys and Devils is a stunning debut ep and I'm going to steal some moments to explain why..
Moving with the moon opens the EP with it's beautifully delivered acoustic finger picking phrases that are immediately enhanced with Lizzie's amazingly dynamic and revitalizing vocal. Overdubbed acoustic work is flawless and adds it's almost harmonizing effect to that sense of completeness for the arrangement which is bright, clever, and well produced. On the actual songwriting side of the scales, we have a really nice set of crafted lyrics that are worthy of some stark praise and appreciation all to themselves!
Still I'm surprised brings forth a unique blend of 'Kate and Lizzyness' in the opening lines but what makes all the difference is Lizzies vocal flexibility particularly with her command of vocal vibrato. Again, the lyrics are powerfully replenished and intensified by Lizzies emphasis and expression in a truly wonderful example of where excellence in songwriting and performance is apparently seamless and made all the more beautiful.
Twisting on the breeze opens with nicely engaging piano and equally engaging vocals for a brilliantly written song about self perceptions and self realization. Again, Lizzies vocals are exceptional but her songwriting takes the main stage here for a song that I believe to be one of the best written I've heard in ages for this female songwriter/indie folk kinda genre. It's a captivator of a song that's for sure and it seems to me that Lizzie Nunnery is no stranger to the art of lyrical captivation!
The Devil's got all the best tunes has some fabulous up tempo guitar that leads us all totally willingly into a maze of highly creative and uniquely imaginative production and arrangement work courtesy of both Lizzie and her production counterpart Vidar Norheim. There's some superb guitar and percussion work in here too but as we have now come to expect.. the magic... the really exceptionally enchantingly vivid magic belongs to the masterful arrangement and lyrical word-wizardry the girl has naturally become so well acquainted with.
Monkey song is the final song on this magnificently written and produced little EP. The song reflects upon our 'status' in the grand scheme of worldly things in a rather clever fashion... the lyrics and vocal are essentially one as they parade the bright, somewhat satirical and ironic perceptions through the speakers for us all to enjoy. It's a wonderfully accomplished piece of work for one so young and a fine close to a stunning debut EP.
Lizzie Nunnery hails from Liverpool.. home to two cathedrals, two football teams, some absolutely brilliant musicians, and a whole load of friends and relatives that I haven't seen in ages! The thing is... in my personal quest to see Lizzie performing these kind of songs live, I now have an even greater excuse to get my act together and get the flights booked!
