Lianne La Havas’s ‘Disarray’ arrives five years after her self-titled album, and the wait feels immediately justified. Known for taking long reflections between releases, La Havas returns with the same soulful clarity and wistfulness that has defined her career. She consistently improves between projects, and here is no exception.
I’d say Lianne’s music thrives in simplicity: a minimal arrangement of guitar and vocals allows her smoky, resonant voice to take centre stage. Some might write it off as coffee shop. Many others would attempt this kind of music, but few could match this.
Each note feels intimate, almost secretive. As La Havas tells Clash Magazine: “It’s about vulnerability, honesty, and giving listeners a window into a moment of my life.”
Her songwriting provides a journal of emotional movements through and after a relationship, cinematic in its world-building. “My memory of this / Will forever exist,” she sings. You almost want to hold your breath, to not disturb her while she works her magic.
All her best songs provide the kind of warm shelter needed to get through any cold and dark winter day. There’s real heart and soul here, something to keep you coming back for more.
“Lianne La Havas” by Ludovic ETIENNE https://www.flickr.com/people/fjludo/ is licensed under CC BY 2.0.