Album Review: Lemoncello, Perfect Place

“Do not listen to the words I say / Listen only to the tone of them / The tone is closer to what the heart wants to say”, Laura Quirke sings on ‘Articulate Animal’, over Claire Kinsella’s hypnotic cello drone. Thus, Lemoncello announce themselves rather magnificently on sophomore album Perfect Place.

‘Karaoke Night’ doubles down on that conceit – unravelling a night out in LA’s Chinatown complete with dancing Beyoncés, the underbelly of which speaks of loves gained and lost – the soundscape jarring yet exquisite. With Ruth O’Mahony-Brady in the co-producer seat, you get the sense that she masterfully facilitated freedom, expanse and trust in the Lemoncello duo.

Exhibit A is the wonderfully delicate ‘Meet Me Half Way’, while the arrangement on stylistic bedfellow ‘Tomorrow Nostalgia’ may well have being axed by a less discerning ear – busy, dissonant and paradoxically perfect as it is. Elsewhere, ‘Unfinished Business’ and ‘Misadventure’ – boasting sublime harmonies and magnificent sonic design – are also hugely impressive.

In terms of the creative process, Quirke talks about sticking with songs longer, and not masking meaning with ornate phrasing – but rather facing complexity head-on. These songs embrace raw emotion, and allow abstraction when needed, but still have the courage to be exposed. ‘White Flag’ captures that conceit brilliantly, while the fever dream of title track and album closer ‘Perfect Place’ encapsulates it utterly.

8/10