All is Forgiven

Lilli Lewis has been labelled a ‘folk rock diva’, but that only describes part of her style. Based in New Orleans, she’s a singer-songwriter and pianist whose influences range from gospel, soul and blues through to R&B. She is best categorised under that catch-all term Americana (which happens to be the title of her previous album) and this new set is dominated by thoughtful, personal songs that constantly change musical direction. She starts in rousing style with ‘Sin Eater’, a grand gospel blues workout on which her piano and fine soulful vocals are matched against Hammond organ, sousaphone from Kirk Joseph of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, along with a spoken recording by her late grandfather Dr William J Faulkner, a minister and Black American folklorist. Next come rock songs, with the title-track featuring rolling guitar lines worthy of Tom Petty, then followed by a series of slower ballads dominated by Lewis’ piano. The stand-out track here is the glorious ‘Ciel Éternal’, which sounds like a gently exquisite French hymn worthy of the McGarrigle Sisters. Hammond, drums and electric guitars return for the brooding swamp rock of ‘Drink this Water Child’ and ‘Firefly’, to end an eclectic set well worth checking out.