Meiko CD Review

Meiko
Meiko
MySpace Records MYSP MSR10035
****
A beautiful and breathtaking debut album
Meiko is one of those artists who oozes with quality and uniqueness. As soon as Meiko starts to sing on this debut self-titled release you know that you are listening to something extra special. This is delectable stuff! Meiko has a distinctive voice that is full of youthful innocence. Meiko’s style is honest and fresh with a certain amount of rawness about it, giving it an organic feel. It is this magical blend that overwhelms the listener and begs them to hear more. Meiko has penned all the songs on this folk/rock/pop infused album proving that she is an excellent singer/songwriter reminiscent in style of Shawn Colvin, Dido and Jewel. With Meiko’s influences including the Indigo Girls, Patty Griffin and Fiona Apple it is easy to see why this album is packed full of amazing lyrical treasures. Reasons To Love You opens with a lovely burst of cello. This is a gentle song that floats harmlessly along. Meiko’s voice is delicate throughout this opening number. Right from the start you know that you are listening to something beautiful and quite breathtaking. How Lucky We Are is slightly more upbeat than the opening number yet Meiko’s vocals are still rather lush and organic in sound. The message Meiko seems keen to convey in this song is that we might want more from life but we must never forget how lucky we are. Heard It All Before is another dreamy song but if you listen closely you will see that the lyrics are serious and speak of the hard decisions you have to make when you are deciding if you are going to leave someone or stay with them. Boys With Girlfriends has much heavier backing than the previous songs on this charming album. This song has a really commercial feel to it but that does not detract from the fact that it is still full of clever and carefully constructed lyrics. Piano Song is quite a simple song that allows Meiko’s voice to shine. Hiding is an atmospheric song. Meiko’s vocals are warm and intense on this striking number. One of the highlights of this album. There is a certain amount of innocence surrounding Meiko’s vocals on this number yet she also manages to convey a sense of great maturity. Sleep is one of those songs where the listener is forced to stop what they are doing and listen closely to the song, the music and the words. Meiko’s voice in this number is haunting. Listening to Meiko’s voice on his wonderful song is like wrapping yourself up in a piece of crushed velvet. Here again the use of the cello gives the song added depth and magic. Atmospheric, dreamy and extremely evocative. Said And Done is another striking number. As soon as this song begins Nick Cave comes to mind possibly because of the jarring music and the dark, ghostly world it conjures up in the listeners mind. The music is unsettling helped by the use of the trumpet and mandolin. Walk By is yet another brilliant song, which sees Meiko change her vocal style from verse to chorus and back again. Meiko’s vocals are evocative and fragile and once again the cello makes an appearance adding to the drama of the song. Under My Bed is a softer number that allows Meiko’s rich voice to take centre stage. Hawaii is a lovely song to end the album on. The backing music is stripped right back allowing Meiko’s delicate and slightly haunting vocals to take centre stage once again. Meiko’s vocals are perfect, as a listener you will find yourself wanting to submerge yourself in them. Her voice is addictive and it is with great sadness and with a feeling of emptiness that the album fades into silence. A deafening silence that will have listeners diving for the play button once more. This album offers listeners a little slice of paradise in the form of eleven glorious songs on a CD.