Lylit | Unexpected (EP)
Lylit | Unexpected (EP)
It is always refreshing to hear ‘fresh new blood’ in the R&B world and Austrian R&B singer Lylit is no different! Lylit is a new R&B singer who is both an accomplished instrumentalist (piano) as well as a very gifted singer. Her debut EP on American Shores, Unexpected is not quite a revolutionary effort per say, but what it does do successfully is to showcase a vocalist with a lot of potential to grow as an artist. Unexpected is enjoyable enough to yield some very nuanced vocal performances from the singer who has more than enough ‘chops.’ Even when some of the material sags ever so slightly, Lylit always shines.
“The Plan” opens up this effort nicely with nice production work that could have appeared on any American R&B album as of late. Here, synthetic brass mixed with a killer drum groove serves as a great palette for Lylit to paint her soulful vocals over. Vocally, Lylit is superb. The cut itself is the best of the album. The major flaw of “The Plan” is that too much is thrown at the listener at once. A highlight of the valedictory cut is the “tangent” that Lylit goes off into at the end, completely changing the scope of the track. You will have to listen to find out!
“Hooked On” is another track with standout production works. Lylit’s vocals are clear as a bell here and her vocal style quite distinctive. The hitch is the song itself does not shine nearly as brightly as its vocalist – the refrain is ok for example, but not stellar enough to make “Hooked On” distinctive or truly commercial. “Opera” is another well produced number that features some nice vocal turns from Lylit, but as far as the form of the cut itself, it is a bit too long to have so few lyrics. Too much “air-time” takes away from what Lylit has to offer vocally here, which is disappointing. The refrain is solid, nonetheless, though not particularly catchy.
“Change” redirects the lost energy from “Hooked On” and “Opera” with a better hook that is catchier, simpler, and more memorable. There is more ‘to latch onto’ as a listener on “Change”; there is a deeper appreciation for Lylit’s vocals. Here, Lylit takes a ‘casual’ approach vocally on verses with the way she sings certain words and the emphasis she places on certain notes. Again, Lylit falls in the trap of being a better singer/musician than the song itself, but maybe that is a ‘backhanded’ compliment to some extent. “Ironical” keeps the upswing going with unique production work and captivating vocals. The nicest feature might be the breakdown section at the 3:15 mark, which helps to make this merely “ok” cut a bit more distinctive. Near the end, Lylit allows herself to ‘lose her cool’ and achieve some truly nice soulful grit.
“Reap The Best” is the first cut since opening “The Plan” that comes over as truly distinctive and shows to the fullest Lylit’s vocal and artistic potential. Here, the cut opens with beautifully harmonized background vocals that ‘name-check’ the title of the cut and helps the listener to connect with the songwriting more. The production is perfect and vocally, Lylit is at her best here, allowing her ‘false voice’ to shine here. “Spine,” the closing cut is solid, but not the best of the album by any means. As always, on “Shine” Lylit sounds good, even if the song itself is merely average.
Essentially, Unexpected is more of a showcase for Lylit’s potential as an artist as opposed to say a ‘tour de force.’ She always sounds the part, but perhaps more distinctive cuts that truly separate her from the rest of the R&B artists out there would really ‘put her over the top.’ Connection with the material is the biggest issue of Unexpected. That said, her superb musicianship should lead her in the right direction on all future endeavors. Hey, you can not go wrong playing the piano and singing – look at Alicia Keys and John Legend!
Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene