Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Tough Luck
In a sassy cover which refers to a classic Julie London album of jazz standards from 1960, this Icelandic-Chinese, Berklee-educated singer and cellist stakes another claim for her style with this further instalment of her sophisticated, orchestrated and gently swinging originals.
In one direction she often sits squarely in the lineage of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and two years ago, when reviewing her Bewitched album we noted she was the most streamed jazz artist in 2022.
It's easy to understand her popularity given what she does, but there's something else going on with her and it is even more evident on this album
She is also an exceptional, intelligent and original lyricist who brings a deft touch to sensitive material like the folk setting of Snow White about body image, a standout showcase for her strong vocal and narrative ability: “The world is a sick place, at least for a girl. The people want beauty; skinny always wins”.
She can sell her break-up pop-jazz (with a female friend in Castle in Hollywood) and is earthy amidst the sheen, as on Silver Lining: “When you go to hell I'll go there with you too, and when we're punished for being cruel, the silver lining's I'll be there with you too”.
She also delivers a smart jazz take on Taylor Swift-type revenge songs in Tough Luck: “I've had enough of waiting 'til you lie and cheat, just like you did to the actress before me. Oops, she doesn't even know. You won't be missed, I'm glad to see you go”.
Laufey offers a smart distillation of classic jazz and intelligent contemporary pop which some might dismiss as MOR.
That's true to some extent as on the instrumental “interlude” Cuckoo Ballad which sounds dropped in from a romantic animated Disney feature.
But that also misses the nuances of the lush arrangements, pointed writing (many with co-producer Spencer Stewart, A Cautionary Tale with the National's Aaron Dessner) and her persuasively versatile voice.
If you missed her before and want to hear someone working the midpoint between sophisticated jazz and sharp contemporary pop then Laufey is your gal.
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You can hear this album at Spotify here
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