Le Ren – Leftovers: Album Review

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Le Ren is a young Folk artist who sounds like an old spirit. Or she channels an old spirit. Raised on Bowen Island off the west coast of Canada, which sounds idyllic and a place of spectacular natural beauty. Then a move to Montreal and the gradual launch of her professional music career.

Le RenAttending Folk, Country and Bluegrass festivals and absorbing the nuts and bolts of the craft. Certainly, she can sound like the early Folk Joni and this is a good thing. She cites her big three lyrical influences as Dylan, Young and Prine.

She has curated a metric ten songs out of dozens she has written for a debut album, Leftovers.

Take On Me sounds traditional Folk with just a trace of an old Celtic lilt to her measured controlled voice. There’s a plucked string instrument which sounds like a lute.

Dyan adds some Folk dance rhythm and the swinging roll of the hips. I think a bodhran is keeping time. Dedicated to her mother and the song is full of light and grace. When I look into the centre of the sun/ I think I’ll see her there. From the image of the sun there is also a candle in the darkness.

Was I Not Enough. With some subtle shifts and nuances of voice and we pitch into older Americana Country. The singing is straight up and unadorned, with some of those vocal cadences which came from the Original Carter Family and Sara Carter in particular. There is a pedal steel guitar adding some weeping. Addressing the pain of love lost. Down to crying just once a day/ Memories are fadin’ away. The voice on high wings its way up and escapes with grace. Love and pain become Love in Vain.

Who’s Going to Hold Me Next? Sounds closer to Nashville Country, but the spare production makes it shine. It’s the essential little flourishes. The bass sounds like an acoustic guitar rather than a stand-up. That pedal steel is sympathising as she explains that she’s not looking for love/ Looking for someone to hold/ Save your words for another girl.

Willow is a stand- out weeping Country song amongst this set. Her voice carries drama and pain with minimalist strokes, choking softly on the last word of each phrase. Touches on the mystical element of Carter Family and the earliest recorded music of some of the other outstanding practitioners of Roots Americana.

The album does sound like she has absorbed a great deal from those Folk Festivals. Where does Bluegrass fit in? She has commented in interviews that she responds most to the camaraderie amongst Bluegrass players. There is virtuoso playing and individual breaks but everyone supports the rhythm and swing.

May Hard Times Pass Us By. A quiet understated song sung in her lower register. In a similar style to Blind Alfred Reed and Always Lift Him Up and Never Knock Him Down. After a few listens you will hear the banjo but it’s being strummed like a ukulele.

I Already Love You is a beautifully sung Folk tune. Highlighted by bowed strings and especially a cello which plays under the singer as she takes it up to the home on high.

Annabelle and Maryanne. Folk Pop with co-lead vocals by Jess Shoman who performs as Tenci. Starts slowly and rises in drama. An acoustic guitar strums a drone. Another mystical theme. Annabelle, I’ve heard that a darkness is calling/ I’m not sure which way to go/ Maryanne, that’s not something that you need to know/ Hold on to the words that I say.

Folk music which leans on the traditions and roots whilst hailing herself, a fresh new artist. In that sense she shares the approach of another bunch of Canadians who did a similar thing on their debut. Some Band or other.

Rev Orange Peel                

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We talked to Le Ren about her Barbie guitar, her deep obsession with New Zealand and her delicate, personal songs. Watch the interview HERE.                      

Rev Orange Peel
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