Alex Lilly, 2% Milk Review
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Alex Lilly (Obi Best, Touché, Zero Dezire and The Living Sisters) is a Los Angeles songwriter, signer, producer, keyboardist. Lilly started playing piano at fourteen and then guitar at age fifteen. Her early influences included Smokey Robinson, Joni Mitchell, and The Beatles. Later, she found jazz and 20th century classical. Lilly’s love and curiosity for music theory found substances in Messiaen, Ives, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, etc. That open-minded curiosity landed her many opportunities in the world of music. Some of those are touring in Beck’s band, with the Bird and the Bee and Lorde. Now Lilly is releasing a full-length album of her own titled, 2% Milk. The debut album’s title track “2% Milk,” was adapted by Lilly from a poem by Jacqueline Suskind, an LA poet who improvises free verses for strangers. The record includes contributions by Jacob Bercovici (of The Voidz), Andy Bauer (of Twin Shadow), and LA electronic pioneer Daedelus. Lilly has been writing songs while working as a keyboardist and backup singer on tour. 2% Milk is released on the label founded by Inara George, who leads the Bird and the Bee with the producer Greg Kurstin. Lilly delivers ten tracks that are well produced, with full sounds, a plethora of resonances from the electronica genre with a smidge of pop sensibility. Lilly’s vocals are intoxicating, and her lyrics are ardently complex, but never heavy. This is a creative ride, so hold on and by all means, keep dancin’.
Positives:
With Lilly, expect what you would not expect. Her songwriting and vocal style is always taking surprising turns, which leads to a new corner of the musical universe that you never knew you were missing until now.
Bottom Line:
Lilly brings swirling synths, full bass lines, and shifting chordal patterns to a series of catchy melodies. There is plenty of cream on the album, like the title tracks rich counterpoint and orchestration of various synth sounds. The verses feature an interesting melody with Lilly’s vocals being doubled in the bass. The chorus is catchy with swirling sounds filling the background and a syncopated drum beat. Other times 2% Milk brings shifting patterns together in way that is mysteriously simple. But don’t be fooled, her sound has much more substance than one might realize. A fine example is “Boomerang’s” phrasing and beat pattern. Lilly’s style and song form, makes it seem like just another dreamy pop/electronica tune, but there is more to it than that. Also, of note, is her rich vocal harmonies. The layers of “Pornographic Mind” also falls under the later description. Lilly’s use of layering instruments and vocals are very interesting. Obviously, the deep study of 20th century classical is still floating around in Lilly’s subconscious mind. Lilly has a way with words, melodies and counterpoint, she spins them through her imagination and shares the cream that rises to the top. Highly recommended and that’s the short of it!