This Mortal Lust by Melinda Gidaly (Review)

Melinda Gidaly’s album consists of lo-fi, witty folk sung with an alarming candour. Gidaly sings some pretty amazing lyrics here. The forthright “Memory of Lust” states “Oh, the memory of lust/My hips holding more than I can trust.”

“You:Desert, Not Deserted” is quietly eerie with its unnerving vocal harmonies. In “Every Heart a Home” she sings “Today I broke the sound barrier with my hysteria.” The song is still pretty restrained, but it shivers with pent up emotion.

Gidaly’s not really like anyone else, but here she echoes Liz Phair. She has the same sassy brand of honesty about her. The closing song “Spanakopita” is a partly spoken, partly sung epic that’s very impressive.

This album is a beautiful and daring thing. I hope Gidaly makes many more like it.

Written by Anna Maria Stjärnell.