Album Review: K D Lang and the Siss Boom Bang – Sing It Loud
3 min read
Multiple Grammy Award winning musician K D Lang may have spent the best part of last decade in the shadows suffering from writers block but new album, Sing It Loud, proves that not only is K D Lang back with gusto but that the writers block has completely vanished as heard on each of the tracks within the latest collection.
Teaming up her new band, the Siss Boom Bang, Lang returns to form with the release of the collectives new studio album, the first since 2008’s Watershed and the first collaborative record for the two.
Opening number I Confess is an exquisite introduction to the new record. The track plays the part of lead single for the record and is already proving to be a fan favorite within Lang’s extensive catalogue. Its swaying chorus sits melancholic among her bands effortless backing and some impressively held, pitch perfect notes.
“A hundred thousand reasons why I should walk away, a hundred thousand more make me stay” pretty much sums up the vibe of the following A Sleep With No Dreaming. It’s a delicate, bass heavy number with some subtle backing vocals that compliment Lang’s deep tones and includes some notable lyrics that show us exactly why Lang is regarded one of the greatest singer-songwriters in the industry.
The Water’s Edge is a syrupy addition with some groaning bass lines while Sugar Buzz is soaked in bluesy tones with Lang’s reverberating vocals humming throughout its five minute lifespan.
Further down the record Habit of Mind provides probably the more pop orientated addition to Sing It Loud. A little more upbeat that the rest of the record its a gentle yet ambitious number with plenty of slide guitar moments to give it its country flattery.
It was occasional collaborator and long time friend Tony Bennett that once branded Lang as the best singer of her generation and not many would argue with that. She manages to hit every note right on the head and deliver every track that she takes under her wing with an enthusiastic and perfectionist approach, applying every ounce of detail along the way.
Among the new tracks featured on the album Lang and co have thrown in a gorgeous cover of Talking Heads’ 1979 track, Heaven. Lang’s voice on the track is nothing short of sublime. Her whispery, carefree peaks within the chorus give life to the thirty year old song and would make David Byrne and co very proud to have Lang place her signature country stamp on it.
Sing It Loud is the first album in 20 years for Lang with a new band. Her previous band, The Reclines, helped launch Lang’s career in music back in the eighties with her first three records, A Truly Western Experience (1984), Angel With A Lariat (1987) and Shadowland (1988), before the collective parted ways and Lang’s solo career took off.
When I initially saw the record release I expected something entirely different to what I would later hear. While the cover displays Lang hollering into a makeshift megaphone and the title of the record being called what it is I expected a record of more uptempo, roaring numbers. Instead the record from start to end is rather tame with its entire contents rather mellow and docile. This is by no means a complaint as what we are given here is a record that throbs with faultless grandeur.
K.D Lang and the Siss Boom Bang will be taking to the road throughout June to showcase Sing It Loud. The tour includes two dates at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
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