The debut album from Saint John-based Ladd & Lasses is what the term ‘musical journey’ was created for. There’s an epic quality to the swelling strings and soaring vocals that drive every song, each one feeling like the soundtrack to its own individual movie.
The presence of strings throughout each song gives a decided folk vibe to the album, but some songs have more pop influence than others. The lead single from the album, ‘Keep On Keeping On’, is an example of this. It has an upbeat, hopeful melody but the masterful use of strings in the background keeps the sound unique.
‘Not Giving Up Yet’ gives off a playful indie-pop vibe with the delicate picking in the verses, but it builds to a triumphant crescendo in the chorus. It’s the type of track that brings the climax of a romance film to mind.
Other songs fully embrace the folk genre. The title track ‘She Wanders’ has a slow, somber build, with heavily narrative lyrics and a burst of rhythm in the last minute of the song that will have you out of your seat and doing a jig (if you know how, that is).
Similarly, ‘The Sea’ really showcases the trio’s Atlantic roots with its oceanic imagery and nostalgia. In fact, even when the ocean isn’t fully present in a song’s lyrics, it feels implicit in the musical arrangements. The image of crashing waves and sparkling water comes to mind. This is a concept that really shines in the completely instrumental ‘Atlantic’.
The pop-folk fusion is a sound that the trio pulls off beautifully. The 9-track LP is bursting with emotions all across the spectrum. It delivers us a sound that obviously has its Maritime inspirations, while still managing to be fresh and unique.
Ladd & Lasses’s She Wanders drops on March 16th. There will be an official release show at Saint John’s Sanctuary Theatre at 8:00pm.