The cover artwork is exceptionally clever, showing just how many sides there are to Liz Lenten, all of them different to the persona perceived by many when she is onstage. I can’t see a BEM (British Empire Medal) clearly on any of the figures behind the curtain, but I know she is proud of the one she was awarded in 2022 for services to music. I have heard a few of her albums in the past, but this one sees her move further away than normal in terms of band, as apparently there are 32 collaborators involved with this one, which for the most part moves between Americana and soft rock/pop/country.
I am not sure if it is due to the amount of people involved, but stylistically this goes into quite a few different places, and while I could appreciate some areas others left me quite cold. For example, the rap on “Let The Good Times Begin” by Dante Augustus just doesn’t work, especially when placed on such a slow-moving number. Liz’s vocals are front and centre , and she has a wonderfully melodic quaver, but I found it difficult to sit down and enjoy the album as it changes so much stylistically. I would have much preferred to have heard a much more stripped back approach with far less guests and fewer layers as even though her vocals are prominent there is very much the danger of being lost inside everything else that is taking place.
I conducted an interview with Liz not long after the release of ‘Game of Faith’, but I must confess to not enjoying this album as much as it feels somewhat sanitised and consequently has lost much of the emotion.
Rating: 6/10
Links:
https://www.auburn.org.uk/
https://itsallscarlet.com/