Album Review: Lizzy McAlphine - 'five seconds flat'
Philadelphia singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine releases her cinematic and nostalgic album 'five seconds flat'.
22-year-old singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine, from Philadelphia, has been attracted to music since she could play on her grandparents' piano. Now grown up, McAlpine has 90 million online streams and has collaborated with Grammy award winners Finneas and Jacob Collier. Coming off the high of supporting UK singer-songwriter Dodie in her North America tour, Lizzy McAlpine is here with her album, 'five seconds flat'.
With her singles 'erase me', 'all my ghosts' and 'hate to be lame (ft. Finneas)' already released, the 14-track folk-pop album will leave you in awe of McAlpine's creativity. With 'doomsday' as the first track, you get a taste of what's to come in this breath-taking album. With an entire orchestra backing McAlpine, the track turns at every corner, delivering more energy as the song progresses. 'doomsday' is the perfect opener with clear vocals and thoughtful intricate instrumentation as it shows off McAlpine's incredible and impressive range.
Close your eyes for the fourth track, as 'called you again' will transport you into the audience of McAlpine's sold-out show. Filling the space with cinematic strings that flourish and graceful harmonies, she calls out to her past friend/lover, declaring how she misses their conversations and being together, even though there is pain between them. Reaching out for this lost relationship brings her sorrow, although McAlpine sweetly reminisces.
One of my favourite lyrics from the album comes from the eighth track, 'ceilings'. McAlpine invites us to an intimate memory and sings 'lovely to be rained on with you'. Recalling that these moments feel familiar, she states that none of it was real, whether this was a figment of imagination or that the addressee did not reciprocate McAlpine's feelings.
The twelfth and shortest track of the album, 'nobody likes a secret', is mellow, honest and suspends you in time. Shedding the intense instrumentation from tracks 'firearm' and 'reckless driving', McAlpine addresses her ex-lover for their behaviour towards her. She sings delicately, just herself and her guitar, 'Nobody likes a secret, and I was always yours.'
With every song on this record, you can feel McAlpine's love, joy, pain and loneliness: each piece is a vital part of her story. "I want to give my fans something different with each record, because I'm different with each record", says McAlpine. "I want to always be growing and moving forward as an artist". True to her words, there aren't two tracks that sound the same on this record.
McAlpine's talent has me convinced that she will write and compose a movie soundtrack one day. In a sense, she already has. A short film will accompany the much-anticipated album, with McAlpine reliving each story. You'll need just five seconds of this album to fall in love with Lizzy McAlpine and her captivating storytelling.
Words by Amy Mealing
