Having encountered Laura Mvula in my travels four times in a week, I am clearly being directed by the gods to tell the world...
Laura’s Sing to the Moon arrived like a spring breeze in 2013 and instantly found its place alongside the likes of Jeff Buckley’s Grace and Elbow’s Asleep in the Back on my Great Debut Albums shelf. Her combination of spare, imaginative arrangements, rich harmonies and unadorned vocals (a refreshing change from the histrionic melisma that bellows out from TV competitions) was a delight to the senses, exquisite and moving. She is a shining example of leaving space for the listener to live in the song, making it very personal in the process.
This selection is one of the gentler songs from the album. If you want something more upbeat and optimistic, try That’s Alright, or if you’re ready for something restrained yet utterly heart-rending, try Father, Father.