Lettie has for more than ten years performed with numerous musicians both here in the UK and across the great pond in the US, she released two solo albums in America with David Baron, she’s recorded sessions for the likes of Dermot O’Leary and has guested with everyone from Pete Murphy (Ex Bauhaus) to Chris Difford (Squeeze) to name but a few and in 2010 she was featured in a BBC 4 documentary entitled “Hello Glastonbury” and yet she’s still something of an unknown quantity to all but the most avid music fan.
Lettie’s third album Good Fortune, Bad Weather should be about to change all that and hopefully give a homegrown purveyour of advant pop the recognition she rightfully deserves. The fourteen track affair, again produced by the aforementioned David Baron is simply a joy to behold combining infectious electro with pure pop to create a glorious off-beat collection that’s equally perfect for day time radio and late night clubbing.
The album opens with Swirl, a wonderful introduction to Lettie’s brand of pop complete with honeyed vocals, contagious beats and more hooks than the British Navy. Imagine prime time Madonna given a modern day makeover or perhaps Robyn or Annie at their best and you’re somewhere close to the gleeful accessibility of Swirl. Following on from the cheery sing-a-long chorus of the opening track is the ultra bouncy keyboard driven Lucky, a track so infectious it should come complete with it’s own warning sign. Bitter welds driving electric guitars and live drums with Lettie’s sweetest ethereal vocal creating a masterclass in dream-pop.
Highlights continue throughout the albums duration from the modern day euphoric disco throb of Sanctuary and Digital to the glitchy piano fronted Fitter and the aching acoustics and strings of Mister Lighter to the robotic Aluminium Man .
Good Fortune, Bad Weather is a wonderfully diverse and fun pop album full of contagious songs, memorable hooks and the wonderfully spirited vocals of Lettie. For a pop album to really strike a chord with me it has to be special, it needs to to have catchy sing-a-long songs, a bit of invention and a top-notch delivery, Lettie ticks all the boxes and so many more on her third album, the world of pop has never sounded so inviting.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 9
www.lettiemusic.com