Album Review
Puremusic.com
Reviewer: Michael Hansen
Recently it was International Women's Day and we were fortunate enough to witness a gathering of some of Australia's finest women singer/songwriters assembled in an all day celebration of the occasion. These remarkable women celebrated each other's talents, marveled at their shared dedication to their craft, rejoiced and testified and the audience responded as one. They did all these things and more but most of all they rocked out, and none more so than Liz Stringer.
Liz Stringer's fine debut recording Soon showcases a mature, soulful voice and an astonishing instrumental prowess, with Stringer switching between a range of guitars, harmonica, banjo, lap steel, and charango. Reflecting on the recording experience, Stringer muses about the temptation to embellish and overly polish her work. She says, "The recording process was interesting, so different to playing live, where it's instant gratification. Live, you have what you have, your instruments and your voice, and that's it. With recording you could go on forever adding things, which is not what I set out to do, but there was a temptation to get stupid about putting tons of instruments on there."
What Soon has in tons is integrity; it's replete with powerfully performed songs of raw emotion, mostly melancholy but wry observations about love, break-ups, and breakdowns. The album has a full warm sound that beautifully complements Stringer's deep, resonant vocal delivery, sometimes resembling Susan Tedeschi, other times Eliza Gilkyson, but in a lower range.
"One More Time" is a Texas style blues shuffle, sweetened by lap steel fills and runs, over which Stringer's gospel-tinged vocal sails with effortless power.
"The Devil And My Daughter" is the emotional centerpiece of the album. Its hoarse, near-spoken narrative is surrounded by swirling acoustic guitars, punctuated by incisive banjo picking. It's a cautionary tale told by a woman regretting that "when the devil came by disguised as love" she "let him in." The prospect of her mistake being repeated by her daughter prompts the eerie admonition, "draw your curtain."
Laconic snare hits introduce the gorgeous "That's All I Can Do," a sweetly swaying tale of loss and regret that is at once achingly sad but at the same time curiously uplifting.
On Soon, Stringer's prodigious instrumental skills are supported by longtime cohort Adam May on drums, augmented by Harry Williamson utilizing "any percussion instrument we could find at his house." Further contributions come from bassists Nick Carver and brother Tom Stringer, and Jordie Lane on electric guitars.
If Soon is a harbinger of things to come from Liz Stringer, then batten down the hatches, there's a storm a comin'.
Review
The Age A2, Saturday 27 January, 2007
Reviewer: Lily Bragge
"Like staring out the window of a fast-moving train, Liz Stringer's songs take you on a journey - a journey that crosses vast, distinct landscapes. Her rich vocals range from silky croons to the world-weary and sad, with big, bold bluesy rips in between.
A beguiling singer and accomplished songwriter, it is Stringer's prodigious command of the steel-string guitar and banjo that distinguishes her from the pack. Man can she play.
Accompanied on percussion by Adam May, the duo creates one fat wall of sound."
Mia Dyson
“A soulful, commanding voice and beautiful, direct songs. Liz Stringer has created a stunning debut album.”
Album Review
Sleepy Hollow Blues Club "Blues News", October 2006
Reviewer: Red Herring
"What is it about a CD that makes it immediately appealing to the listener? Obviously the songs, the lyrics and the performances but it's also about the sonic texture, style, instrumentation and of course personal taste.
I'm not usually a 'gusher' when it comes to CD reviews but this Debut CD 'Soon' by Liz Stringer has bountiful quality in all these areas. It also subscribes to the theory 'less is more' using a scrooge like economy of notes and sounds which is usually only evident in more established performers. Not a sound is heard that doesn't have a good reason for being there. So hats off to the producers: Harry Williamson and Liz Stringer (with help from Adam May).
The sonic texture has depth and character while at times it pinches and pulls your ears demanding your attention. From the first lonely single harmonica note on the opening track 'Like a Roll of Thunder' dances like the pied piper and the brushed snare sets the dogged rhythm moving forward at all costs. The cello (my favorite emotive instrument) supplies a dark undercurrent of foreboding and the poetic lyric makes you feel like you are witnessing Liz Stringers open heart surgery. At the same time you feel privileged and trusted to be there.
I'm not suggesting for one second that the lyrics on this CD are narrow in range in fact the opposite is true. At times they are angry, and at others joyful, they also deal with temptation, passion, sorrow, love and torment and are full of human frailty. I wasn't quite sure about the sound of Liz Stringers voice at first, but my uncertainty was quickly overcome listening to the integrity and honesty in her voice. She doesn't sound like anyone else I've heard and her voice is rich, sometimes tough, sometimes tender, and vulnerable.
Liz also plays a range of instruments on this CD.... acoustic guitar, banjo, blues harp, the afore mentioned cello, bass, lap steel, 12 string slide guitar and charango. The slide work on 'One more time' is worth pointing out as gritty and moody but generally her playing on all tracks is much more than competent, she's a real force!
There are five other musicians who contribute to this CD and the choice of what to play and when to play (or not to play) is what makes them valuable contributors. Although their energy is strong they are never outside their abilities and realize their job is to support the song and the emotion the writer is trying to convey. They do it oh so well. Adam May plays Snare, stomp, drum kit and a range of percussion while Harry Williamson not only plays 12 string guitar, charango and sings backing vocals but as the liner notes say ... "and any other percussion instrument we could find at his house", he also engineered, mixed and mastered the recording. Sonically textured like a hand made tribal rug. (Sorry I'm gushing again.). The other musicians are: Nick Carver – electric and double bass, Tom Stringer – bass and Jordie Lane – electric guitar.
The songs themselves (all written by Liz Stringer) have a number of stylistic influences. I can hear traces of Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, and Gillian Welch in the country folk spectrum, then there are strong blues influences more evident on tracks like 'One more time' and 'The devil and my daughter'. There is also a Celtic vein running through songs such as, 'I guess you’ll never know' and 'Sinking like a stone'. There are even moments that (dare I say) are popish. The influences may be wide but the album is cohesive and solid right down to the artwork and packaging.
Liz Stringer's 'Soon' is on high rotation on my CD player and I recommend it for its immediacy and depth. Sonically it's a great reference for any producer in this genre, the performances are real and emotive, and the songs and lyrics are human and personal. It's really great stuff - check it out.
Album Review
Inpress issue #923, June 2006
Reviewer: Sam Fell
"I came across Liz Stringer through Mia Dyson, who picked Stringer out of seemingly nowhere to play support on her recent national tour. So it was in the Spanish club a few weeks ago, in support of Dyson that I heard Liz Stringer for the first time and heard a voice that sang volumes.
In front of a near full house, Stringer and percussionist Adam May busted through a plethora of rootsy grooves; Stringer the multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, lap-steel, banjo and Mississippi sax, but it was her dusky, powerful voice and the ease with which it filled the room, that really captured people’s attention.
Stringer’s debut record, Soon, while including a few more people than her live performance, is basically an embodiment of the show performed that rainy winter’s evening in Fitzroy. The vibe on that particular night was high, as is the norm at a live gig, and while Soon takes a more relaxed road, the passion with which she sings her compositions is as strong here as it was when she was feeding off the energy of the crowd in front of her.
Listening to the lyrics on the record, you get the feeling that Stringer is laying a lot of emotion out for all to see; That’s All I Can Do and the hidden track at the end are almost heartbreaking in their honesty, the tunes uniquely deluxe in their melancholy wanderings; opener Like A Roll Of Thunder is just that, a haunting, lap steel growl on the horizon, heralding what’s to come. The Devil And My Daughter is the track that perhaps best highlights Stringer’s vocal qualities, this one enabling her to really stretch out and display what is an intensely warm and strong voice.
More upbeat numbers like One More Time and Sinking Like A Stone add a bit of spice and also display Stringer’s harmonica and banjo prowess, creating a mix of sounds which, while becoming familiar in terms of its rootsy vibe, is quite unique, thanks in large amounts, to the vocal.
This is a stirring debut from Liz Stringer, one which hopefully brings her the attention she deserves."
Album Review
The Last Record Store (Smith St, Collingwood, VIC)
Reviewer: Alex Morton
"Sensational new album from another hugely talented young local, and one of the strongest debuts I reckon I've heard in - well, just about ever! Liz Stringer is a strong and beautifully expressive singer, a gutsy guitarist, plays fearless banjo and soulful harmonica, and writes great songs of dark beauty - sweet, sad, soulful and scary, hard-won and very moving.
This is an album of great emotional resonance - compelling, captivating and as addictive as hell."
Gig Review
Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer at the Northcote Social Club
Show Date: 23 September 2005
Reviewed: 27 September 2005
Review by: James Alexander
"Sold out show at the Northcote. Wow. Mia keeps playing sensational shows and this one was no exception. With Liz Stringer supporting, the few hundred people who came to see the show were not disappointed. Starting with "Should have listened to myself" Liz's voice is bluesy, deep and emotion stirring. Along with her dreaded percussion dude, the music they played was heartfelt and beautiful. Using an array of effects on her acoustic guitar including looping effects, she managed to fill out the room with a magnificent sound. Whipping out the banjo halfway during her set for a song "Though my heart is breaking" the room was treated to the talent that is Liz. Keep a look out for her."
Marty Williams - Peninsula Hot Springs, Carnivale 2006
“...an up and coming blues and roots performer - a grainy, soulful artist....Liz creates a focus that brings the audience right in towards her and she establishes a real intimacy. She has a sense of intensity that is quite compelling”.