Auburn – Behind the Scenes
Auburn is a British band featuring Liz Lenten & contributions from 32 collaborators who bring their own perspective & experience. They embrace a wide range of musical approaches to diversified musical genres that evolve through roots, blues, Americana & soulful pop structures. The tracks have been recorded in studios in the U.K., U.S. & Brazil.
The 11-track indie set Behind the Scenes (Drops March 27/Scarlet Records/44:46) is versatile & opens with the husky-voiced & at times juvenile-toned Liz on “Bathroom Shelf.” The music’s cocktail lounge-jazz in tradition & Liz utilizes a good breathy sultry vocal that parallels the backup singers with bubbles of guitar notes that play with economy. The arrangement is good; the song’s interesting & the tale: expressive. It has substance.
“Perfect Imperfection” is lyrically colorful. Superior to the bathroom shelf piece. Again, Liz has a good arrangement, moves classily into a pop medium. Producer Phil Spector would’ve liked Liz & her repertoire. It’s almost like Millie Small (“My Boy Lollipop”) & this song, as well as the closer “Sweet Dream,” are designed like the best ‘60s girl groups & pop chanteuses (Little Eva, Lesley Gore) – all melody, drama & wall of sound immediacy.
The production has its drawbacks; some antiseptic sound with no warmth, but the music still resonates with a satisfying groove & skillful playing. “Let the Good Times Begin” is soulful with the backup singers, but lyrically, cliché-heavy, slow & the percussion is flat & cold.
“Speaking In Tongues” is an improvement with its Kate Bush/Julee Cruise prominence. This song about the struggle to communicate has an atmosphere. Liz has vocal fortitude. The backup singers add a little creepiness, but it modifies the musicality nicely. The production sound opens like a morning rose on “Behind the Scenes,” with its tight groove, beat snap on snare, solid backup & enticing melody is good, good, good. It still treads Kate Bush/Julee Cruise with its heavy bottom anchored to the arrangement, but it’s tantalizing. It has the mysterious glow that The Shangri-Las nailed on “The Sweet Sounds of Summer” (1966).
There’s a touch of Christine Ohlman (“The Deep End”) with Rebel Montez in the style Liz uses on “Opposites.” It’s effective, well-tailored, & shaped. Musically, the performance of “Lie As Easy As You Breathe” falls short with the juvenile vocal approach. The song is good, the playing is excellent, but it deserves a more mature vocal. Liz sings well, but it languishes, comes across as gimmicky, almost novelty, with the childish voice. “Don’t Give Up,” despite its simplicity, has muscle. The guitars are assertive & the steel guitar quirkiness is appealing. Excellent stuff for the curious.
Highlights – “Bathroom Shelf,” “Perfect Imperfection,” “Speaking In Tongues,” “Behind the Scenes,” “Opposites,” & “Don’t Give Up.”
Color image courtesy of Rudy Hargreaves. CD @ https://www.auburn.org.uk/ & https://www.hemifran.com/artist/Auburn/