Despite her 15 years in the music business, Leigh Nash is still a young woman. Not all that much older than the age where many musicians are just starting their careers. Technically she is a new solo artist, but many will recognize her voice as the lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer. With a platinum album and Grammy nomination under her belt, Nash is no newcomer and yet she maintains an innocence and fresh feeling throughout her debut solo CD.
After Sixpence disbanded, Leigh took a couple of years off to start her family, and her writing is understandably reflective. The first track, Along the Wall, is an interwoven smooth dream and a smart album opener. Her voice here is airy yet rich, and beckons you to continue listening. She must have brought her pen and paper outside as you hear many outdoor analogies floating through these tracks. She co-wrote this opening track with producer Pierre Marchand, who also produces Sarah McLachlan.
Tracks 2 and 3, Nervous in the Light of Dawn and My Idea of Heaven were previously released as a radio-bound EP, and stirred up interest in the upcoming Blue on Blue album among many Sixpence fans. The instrumentation is on the money from the acoustic guitar carrying Nervous in the Light of Dawn to the guitar hooks on Heaven. The backups are as smooth as Leigh’s lead vocals, and they serve to enhance the overall mood of many tender tracks. Heaven has received considerable airplay from the EP, and its hook gives the song a country-meets-pop flavor. The production here is first-rate, with perfect layers and an excellent mix.
Actually the production really shines throughout the whole album. Marchand is an inspired choice, and is as close to production perfection as possible. He takes everything up a notch, and gives Nash’s vocal and songwriting talents a fitting showcase. A producer’s job is to take the material he’s given to work with, and weave it all together to make a great album. And he really succeeded here. Every song is very listenable, with much of it absolutely compelling.
Ocean Size Love is the gem of this album, with a beautiful melody and expansive lyrics, married with superb production surrounding her absolutely flawless vocal. Ocean Size combines the best lyrics with floating instrumentation that carries the song as if on gentle waves. A subtle building arrangement and some tasty lead guitar licks further enhance this delightful mix of voice, melody and a lyric expressing a hopeful cry for companionship and deliverance. Ocean Size Love is possibly the closest song lyrically to an overtly Christian message; they’re deep enough that they will satisfy both Nash’s Christian and secular audiences.
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Never Finish is a happy love song to her husband with a catchy melody. Leigh wanted the freedom to write words that were important to her, but lyrically this song and a couple of other tracks just don’t seem to quite reach the level of the album as a whole. There is a delicate balance of interplay between the words and music. The words are beautiful, picturesque and inspiring, the music is sweet and fresh…but the marriage between the two is sometimes flawed…needing a bit more work and polish (or collaboration).
Between the Lines is another Marchand co-written song, and has definite potential as a radio track. This song and More of It are solid songs. They could have been expanded further production-wise if they had wanted the CD to simply be radio fodder. One Son Records seems to have approached this album like “Pet Sounds”; they just wanted a wonderful sounding CD, far from some other labels who compromise standards with cookie cutter CCM songs. Leigh has a unique sound, and this is a very personal, enjoyable album from start to finish.
Angel Tonight has a nice melodic feel and keeps the smooth song order flowing along quite nicely. Blue is classic, with unexpected chord progressions and a pop flavor that is musically irresistible! It’s destined to be one of her signature songs. Lyrics to Blue and Cloud Nine and Just A Little follow the reoccurring love theme leading down happy lane with surreal imagery. Cloud Nine reminds you of Sam Phillips with T. Bone Burnett producing, which is never a bad comparison. Mothers will love the closer which is written for Leigh’s Son. What a wonderful gift to give a child, a song that will live on past our lifetimes.
Leigh’s voice is the shining star of Blue on Blue. She sings with a flawless blend of strength and frailty -- a beautiful jewel, pitch-perfect, ethereal, and vulnerable. Let’s not forget Blue on Blue is a debut CD, and with continued solid promotion this album will do well and set up even better things for Leigh. Expect her to continue to grow as a songwriter, and if she keeps her producer and crew together for her next album, watch out world! |
