Review: Lianne La Havas - 'Is Your Love Big Enough?'

Pop/Soul singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, who's a native of London, England, hasn't received as much attention in the U.S. as in her native country, but if she keeps releasing ear-pleasing music like the songs that appear on her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, then she's bound to eventually become a well-known star on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Is Your Love?, which was released in the States on Aug. 7, 2012 -- almost a full month after it came out in the United Kingdom -- is a soft, sweet melodic album that may have the catchiness of pop music, but is far removed from the empty, disposable type of tunes you hear on top 40 radio these days. Each song here has smart lyrics and a substantive narrative to go along with the gorgeous melodies and vocals.

A lazy person might immediately lump Lianne La Havas together with Corinne Bailey Rae, since the two are both British women of color, look somewhat alike and primarily sing mid-tempo songs about love and relationships. And although there are some similarities between the two musically, Lianne's debut is actually not as airy and light as Corinne's early music. Although both are very fine singers (in more ways that one), Corinne's vocals are lighter and more airy, while Lianne's voice is lower and more Soulful, and therefore carries more gravity. And that weight is put to good use on many of the album's dozen songs (note: the deluxe edition has another either four or five songs, depending of which edition you hear).
"Gone," which like all songs on the album, was co-written by Lianne herself, is a tune about kicking a lying, deceitful man to the curb. But instead of ranting and raving, she sounds hurt and weary -- but still managing to keep a stiff upper lip -- as she sings lyrics like "I heard enough fairy tales back in my youth, So just stop biting your nails and take the painful truth, You just look ridiculous in disguise/Yes I found you out, This is my last goodbye." The ups and downs of relationships are a common theme throughout the album, with Lianne's mildly husky vocals contrasting with her relatively young age (her 23rd birthday was Aug. 23, 2012).

In addition to "Gone," some of the more ear-pleasing songs on Is Your Love Big Enough? are "Forget," where Lianne refuses to let someone who broke her heart back into her life; the lyrically abstract title track, where Lianne questions someone regarding if they're going to be able to handle "what's to come;" and the beautiful "Lost and Found," which sounds incredibly inviting despite psychologically damaged lyrics like "Come upstairs and I'll show you, Where my demons hide from you, Just look at who I have become, I am so ashamed you were the one that made me feel the way I do." Another winner is "Age," where Lianne goes through a bad relationship with a younger man before finally finding happiness with a guy old enough to be her father. "Is it such a problem that he’s old?, As long as he does whatever he’s told," she sings. "I’m glad that it's just my heart that he stole, And left my dignity alone."
Although still in her early 20s, Lianne La Havas has already established herself as one of the better songwriter-performers in English music today. Although she still has a way to go before she conquers the U.S. market, true talent always gets heard, one way or another. And as long as she continues to build on the creativity displayed on her debut album, success is assured.