Jagged-edged lyrics belie pure vocals from Sheffield newcomer Gia Ford.
‘Transparent Things’ is the debut album from Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Gia Ford, and from the opening lines of first track ‘Poolside’ her stunningly smooth vocal delivery is apparent, with echoes of Sade. Equally evident is her engaging lyrical talent, delving into the darker corners of the human condition, as she sings “In summer town/where I’d love to watch you drown/ by the poolside/so kiss me now/or I’ll blow your brains right out/sitting by the poolside” in contrast to the chilled vibe of the mid tempo arrangement.
While the album generally has a chilled feel, with full band arrangements with keys and guitar up front, ‘Loveshot‘ turns the dial up on the vibe, with a potent guitar riff, some funk guitar and sparingly crafted observational lyrics “I see an old man ‘round town/giving his heart out/ sun in his eyes/ I’ve seen a burned out preacher/ leatherette features/ learning his lines.” ‘Buzzing on You’ leans to the styling of Joan as Policewoman, with church organ reflecting its religious symbolism, and a motif hinting at Prince’s ‘Raspberry Beret’, an eclectic mix.
Single release “Paint Me Like a Woman” has an edgy feel, its narrator describing how the abuse she’s been dealt by men leads to blood on her hands “On a hot road in the sun/day by day and month by month/ I try to let men have their fun/ I don’t know what I’ve become/in the dark I shot my gun/ and suddenly I’m on the run/when those green lights go red.” In Ford’s own words, “It is a look inside her mind as she feels herself drifting away from who she really is; allowing her rage to weave itself into the fabric of her being. It’s a comment on how we hurt each other, how we change each other, and a question: who gets punished for this terrible nature we have all, to varying degrees, embodied?”
‘Housewife Dreams of America’ has a dreamy vibe, with a potent shot at superficiality in relationships “Here we are standing in the quicksand/ Smother me softly with a slow dance/ Housewife dreams of America/ One more sip and I’m giving up/ What have you got if your God is money?/ What have you got if your God is money?/How do you pray on your knees every Sunday”. And there’s much to admire in a writer set to seize the “animal symbolism in Americana” crown from Caitlin Rose ( horses and rabbits) with her songs ‘Alligator’ and ‘The Porcupine’, inventive and intriguing in equal measure.
The album’s ten tracks are all self-penned, and were recorded in LA at the renowned Sound City Studios with producer Tony Berg, known for his work on albums including Phoebe Bridgers’ albums ‘Stranger in the Alps’ and ‘Punisher’. It’s an excellent debut with lyrics that keep drawing the listener in, and with that chocolate-smooth vocal.
