A pitch-perfect singing voice, a touring career from the age of 10 and a performance on Israel’s “The Voice” seem like the perfect ingredients for a mass-produced, commercial pop princess.
This makes it all the more impressive that Sivan Talmor’s new album ‘Immigrants of Lace”, is a genre-bending, deeply personal exploration of the her identity.
The album was recorded and produced with her full band in the studio, a creative process that seems to have given the album a rich palette of influence. There are shades of Sharon Van Etten and Sufjan Stevens in the more somber moments, with the pop sheen of artists like Lana Del Ray and Arctic Monkeys at its most energetic. The mixture is far from a mess, tastefully combining acoustic and electronic elements, anchored by consistently well-crafted, hooky songs and a dynamic and versatile singing voice.
The mood varies between uplifting tracks like “Dancing” and “Magic Dust” to heartbreaking ballads like the title track “Immigrants of Lace”. In the artist’s own words, the album deals with maturity and the freedom it entails, and the music itself is a reflection of that.
Shades of Sharon Van Etten and Sufjan Stevens in the more somber moments, with the pop sheen of artists like Lana Del Ray and Arctic Monkeys at its most energetic
“Sad Heart” is a great opener, setting the scene with distant drums, synth bells and rich harmonies. The chorus has Sivan belting “It’s my heart, that was already broken from the start”, a powerful and vulnerable line that sets up the melancholy tone of the record.
“Falling” begins with whisper thin Billie Eilish vocals, slowly building into a haunting folk ballad. Her filtered voice in the bridge sounds like cabaret brass, and the honky tonk piano gives it a theatrical flavour that sits nicely under the operatic vocals.
This is a bold, experimental piece of work that sees the artist at her most ambitious
“I’m Not Afraid” is another highlight, a sombre but hopeful anthem about the strength it takes to overcome fear. As she sings “I’ve made mistakes, I’ve paid my dues and now I’m ready”, it’s clear that the record is a milestone of her career, and perhaps even her life in general. This is a bold, experimental piece of work that sees the artist at her most ambitious. If you’re looking to be taken on a satisfying emotional and musical journey, look no further.
“Immigrants of Lace” is available on all digital streaming platforms.
Sivan is currently touring the album with a show in Prachtwerk, Berlin on Monday, 9th September, with support from Dan Billu. More info and tickets can be found here
