The self-titled EP by
singer/songwriter
Lizzie West
is a brilliant introduction to her major-label full-length
Holy Road: Freedom Songs
, for this four-song set captures
West
's wistful storybook lyrics, deeply rooted in life's travels and emotional filters.
's crackling vocals are warm and honeyed with an icy gloss (think
Emmylou Harris
and
Nanci Griffith
), making songs such as the lilting afterlife of
"Sometime"
and the soft-hued synth beats of
"Family Christmas"
a great link to
's wild imagination.
"Chariots Rise"
tinkers with an
alt-country
feel, which is closely reflective of
's overall musical impression. As a writer,
isn't shy in using her love of
poetry
and her toast to one of music's finer poets,
Leonard Cohen
, is a chilling account of what makes her mind tick. Her rendition of
"I'm Your Man"
is darkly mysterious, certainly a divine tribute to
Cohen
and a refreshing look at what's yet to come from this New York City girl. ~ MacKenzie Wilson