By Liz Belilovskaya

Grown Unknown by Lia Ices is a melodic, melancholy journey through drifting, easy-going notes and dreamy musical sequences. Each song is a testament to the careful arrangement of diverse components, resulting in a smooth, serene album. Ices’ lyrics are poetic and eclectic; making full use of her affinity for beautiful phrasing and elaborate storytelling through song.

Lia constructs the album elegantly, with intricate, soft notes that waft through loose and open compositions. The music is powerful, but manages an ephemeral feel devoid of abrasion, sharp notes or concussive rhythm. Her notes are long and lingering; managing a folky soulfulness that permeates the album.  

“Daphne” is a beautiful song that opens with a collection of string instruments, as a chunky cello conspires with an acoustic guitar for a layered, soft melody that intrigues but doesn’t overwhelm. Lia’s vocals are distant and angelic but prominent in the songs. A male voice slowly emerges, coverting the song into an endearing duet, the only one on the album. “Lilac” really showcases Lia’s ability to touch the audience with her singing. She connects on a truly intimate level with lines like, “For only you, I sing for only you, I sing.”

“Little Marriage” is a lovely soft and airy song, with nurturing sounds like the shaking of small bells like those found on a baby’s crib. The bells shaking, in tandem with a light maraca, foster a warm, reflective feeling of childbirth and soft reflection.  The slow and melancholy “Bag of Wind” sounds harder, with Lia’s voice balancing the composition with syrupy sweet and thick execution. The instruments and sound effects are a little more edgy. A clapping board occasionally bangs and the guitar is blunter. “Grown Unknown,” the title track, is bound by hand clapping that resembles a milary drum rhtym, with a guitar eventually introduced. Her vocals adopt and Irish folk formation  going high on the rear end of the note.

Lia Ices is ethereal but present, poetic but steady, grounded but elated. She may sound a little bit like Sarah McLachlan, she may have a quality to her singing like Isobel Campbell, but she makes it her own but adding certain experimental tones to her music. She differs in her style in her poetic phrasing while demonstrating her depth through smart and elaborate composition. Together Grown Unknown stands as a reflection of Ices’ hard work, vivid vision and fantastic imagination.

“GROWN UNKNOWN” TRAILER

LIA ICES | Myspace Music Videos

out of 5

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