My First Review

In between working two jobs and going to school full time I have been mailing out my EP when I have a chance in hopes of receiving reviews. Finally one has arrived!!

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Amy Jo Lomas- SundayMatinee on Fire EP
Mastered by Bernie BeckerProduced by Amy Jo Lomas

Amy Jo Lomas composed her first piano pieces when she was 15, shortly after the death of her mother. Inspired by, as she puts it, “the gift of life and the inevitable reality of death,” Lomas continued making music, balancing moody vocals against electronic-inflected jazz. The talented songstress and self-taught pianist makes her debut with a sultry self-produced EP, Sunday Matinee on Fire.


The EP flirts with occasional electronic accents, but what comes across most clearly is the classic jazz in Lomas’ vocalization, which is alternately seductive and serene. Lomas croons about themes she details as “lover’s lament to nostalgic childhood reflections to pro-peace messages.” Her way with smoky harmonies and cool melodies recalls both the drawn notes of Sade and the yearning of Tracey Thorn’s vocals in Everything But the Girl.


In the title track, Lomas’ vocals drip like honey through each musical phrase. She breaks from her even keel only to sing, “If you need someone to love, love me,” subtly insinuating a shade of blue. The subtle brush of percussion and understated piano accompanying her echo a lounge style of jazz. “The Daze” is nostalgic and wistful, slowly sauntering through a memory — in this case the ocean breezes, empty bottles, snowstorms and sleepless nights of Lomas’ past. Playing between sharps and flats within the otherwise simple structure of the song, Lomas practices the utmost control of her voice in “We’re Alive.” The atmospheric “Sancho,” with ambient electronic nuances and meandering xylophone, sounds like Bossa Nova from outer space; meanwhile Lomas’ vocals pick up an exotic feel, becoming playfully coy like those of Erykah Badu or Nelly Furtado. Finally, the album takes a political turn with “Sunset in Baghdad,” which despite the light-hearted melody and up-tempo percussion, carries a serious call for peace. (Self-released)
www.amyjolomas.com

-Lulu McAllister