Lou Black – Lovely Ashes From the Broken Hearts
Lou Black has a new release, available only digitally, by the lovely name of Lovely Ashes From the Broken Hearts. The album was produced by Dave Mallen and Lou. On every song, Lou has arranged a female lead singer, with himself only singing backing vocals, and that not on each one. Lead vocalist are Flo Anito, Erin Frisby, Heather Aubrey Lloyd, Cariahbel Azemar (aka Meet the Bug), and Jacie Lee.
“Don’t Want Your Attitude” was actually written more than twenty years ago at a time when Lou was emerging from a toxic relationship breakup. Jacie Lee sings this one. As Lou says, “I felt the vocals needed a singer who could channel that Dusty Springfield meets Jackie DeShannon vibe for my Burt Bacharach-eque arrangement. R&B and jazz singer Jacie Lee gave the song exactly what it needed.“ We concur, and it’s quite a song. Lovely with a touch of quavering vulnerability “I don’t want your attitude, and don’t ask me for your gratitude.”
“Tear You Up” features Flo Anito, DC area musical mainstay, with bright twinkling bells and a song about your sweet lovesickness being torn up by a cold heart. Next on “Love Can Be A Terrible Thing,” Erin Frisby, lead singer for the punk band “Ammonite” there’s a power vocal and a hard hitting rhythm, and it feels like a throwback love song for all those public Hollywood breakups we are served up.
On “Break My Heart” the melodies are sung by Cariahbel (aka Meet the Bug) and the vibe is sparkly and bright again, despite the song’s trepidation for whatever might go wrong around the next corner. “We Gotta Stop” is sung by Heather Aubrey Lloyd with a bit of a country vibe and pedal steel.
This album leans to the pop side of the electro – twang continuum with bright tones and moody vocals and songs about the dark side of love. Lou originated in Peru and has spent decades in the UK producing records. All of the songs sing of tortured hearts and the ways that they end. Find the music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lHaFegTJruviNhqpkOhLR?si=O2wjfr07Q_ishRqZ1LlbHg&nd=1&dlsi=7c4468a8995449b8
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