With her most recent release, Unravel, Canadian singer-songwriter Lynn Miles edges closer to finding her stride, to staking a claim to a sound uniquely her own. This is a significant step forward from her uneven 1998 release, Night in a Strange Town, where Miles's influences all but overwhelmed her talent. Originally released in Canada and Europe (where Miles has a significant following) in October 2001, Okra-Tone has now made the CD available for U. S. listeners.
Miles defies convenient pigeonholing, varying her musical style from track to track. Her songs traverse the spectrum from the barebones piano and vocals of "You're Not Coming Back" and "Brave Parade" to the bluesy feel of "Now I Understand" and "Over You," which are vaguely reminiscent of Chris Isaak, to the downright country twang of "When Did the World." Miles also proves adept at straightforward pop with "Undertow" and "Unravel." As with her previous work, the instrumentation -- primarily electric and acoustic guitars, complemented by piano, strings, accordion and dobro -- is straightforward and uncomplicated, a solid foil to Miles' strong, clear voice.
By turns husky, sweet and plaintive, that voice is the CD's highlight. Miles delivers her vocals with a delicate whisper, forlorn sigh or unrestrained enthusiasm -- whatever's needed to punctuate the tone or words of a given song. Lyrically, Unravel is stronger and more focused than its predecessor. Miles is still prone to romantic cliche at times, but there is a disconsolate current beneath the surface of many of her words that is both beautiful and emotionally affecting. Thematically, Unravel is about relationships and lives that have fallen apart, have unraveled. Her songs are populated with forlorn narrators such as the grieving widow of "Black Flowers," the disillusioned girl of "Surrender Dorothy," and the bitter wife of "When Did the World." Miles wisely prevents the CD from treading maudlin waters through deft placement of the more musically upbeat songs throughout.
Unravel paints a promising picture of future music to come from Miles, ably demonstrating both her talent and focus.
Miles's Web site, provides a
bio, discography and current tour schedule.
