ALBUM REVIEW: Nerina Pallot
According to the press release, Nerina Pallot is set to go supersonic this year. With radio play of her bouncy lead single Everybody’s Gone To War snowballing, an accomplished fi rst Top of the Pops appearance, and an upcoming UK tour, this seems more like a prophecy than wishful thinking. War is a fantastic pop song, with doomy lyrics contrasting with a lilting, upbeat melody.
Her classical training is evident, complementing the basic pop song formula with harmonies that you don’t normally hear on the radio. This album plays as one that has clearly been worked on night after night. Not only does every song sound perfect, but the album converges together as a complete work.
Tori Amos’ infl uence is evident in the clanky disjointed piano part of Idaho , the song descending into passionate madness, “I’m sick of opinions, and I’m sick of this war I wage on myself”. The album’s highlight is Learning To Breathe, a beautiful climax of interwoven voices comprising the chorus. Other standout tracks are the fragile piano-led Sophia, and the silky Halfway Home. Fires is a perfect pop album, maintaining a depth without taking itself too seriously.
Interviewing Pallot at her Madame Jojos gig in February, I was touched not only by her bright personality, but also by how much her songs clearly mean to her.
11th May 2006