Brazilian-British artist Liana Flores has released her first album, Flower Of The Soul. The themes are love and contemplation.
The music is Singer/Songwriter and Folk. The album has a lovely meditation and nostalgic vibe. The musical style parallels Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and Frank Sinatra. The compositions are impressive. The team of musicians is phenomenal. The music is rhythmic with good energy. Liana Flores did an excellent job composing the songs.
The ballads on this record are calming. Hello Again is a pleasant way to start the album. It starts slow and then goes into an excellent semi-fast beat. The song’s beginning parallels Shania Twain’s From This Moment, and then the rest reminds me of Frank Sinatra’s classic single, The Girl From Ipanema. Orange-coloured Day has a captivating mix of old-fashioned & modern Jazz. The guitar is remarkable. It reminds me of Charles Aznavour’s For Me Formidable. The song Nightvisions has an impressive, wavy rhythm. The violin in the background is a great choice. The song Now and Then has a smooth rhythm. It reminds me of Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night and Something Stupid with a slower tempo. The cello adds a nice touch. The tune Slowly concludes the album with a soothing ballad that reminds me of Norah Jones’s early works.
The semi-fast songs have a bold sound. Crystalline combines classical and modern musical styles remarkably. Liana Flores plays the guitar wonderfully, and Danny Bensi does an incredible job playing the cello, violin, and viola. The wavy rhythm and it complements the gradual composition. Halfway Heart has a great Jazz-style beat with remarkable piano playing. It parallels The Cranberries 90s single Linger but with a Jazz sound. The short piece When the Sun is a fantastic interlude. I Wish for the Rain has a Christina Perri and Norah Jones vibe. The old-fashioned Jazz sound gives a nostalgic touch. Cuckoo has a beautiful piano sound that reminds me of La La Land, especially Ryan Gosling’s City Of Stars. It parallels Christina Perri’s single Penguin (the musical parts) and Queen’s 80s hit Save Me during the verses. The composition is incredibly intricate. The song Butterflies (with Tim Bernades) has a dynamic guitar sound. It parallels Kajagoogoo’s Too Shy with a slower, calming tempo. It has a fun Brazilian/Latin vibe.
The music is incredibly diverse in style and composition.
Liana Flores’s voice is soft and husky. She has a rich, rhythmic vocal style
that parallels Sugar Jones (a 90s girl band) and the late lead singer Dolores O’Riordan. There’s a fantastic duet with Tim Bernades performing the song Butterflies. Their duet is incredible and dynamic.
The lyrics are deep, with beautiful poetry rich in language and meaning. The album discusses contemplation and spirituality with incredible imagery and imagination. The metaphors are well thought out. Each song is beautifully written, with heart and soul, covering a range of emotions, including love, joy, and sadness.
Some tunes discuss uncertainty and nostalgia. Hello again is a beautiful metaphor for changing seasons changing seasons to represent how people evolve. The song Halfway Heart is an impressive piece about that in-between time before building the courage to try another shot at love again. The piece When the Sun is a fantastic transitional tune that sets the tone for the rest of the album. I Wish for the Rain, introduced by When The Sun, represents heartbreak while remembering some good times spent with that person. There’s also wishful thinking that they’d come back. The personification of the rain is that of a woman representing a maternal figure, like a mother comforting her child. It’s a heartfelt, poetic piece.
Other tunes have a contemplative tone, representing a time of soul-searching. Orange-coloured Day is a heartfelt tune about appreciating every moment and the incredible surroundings. The song Nightvisions has a profound spiritual story about evolving as a person – finding the answers from within. Crystalline is another excellent example of growing and transformation through the cocoon metaphor. The piece Now and Then describes emotional turmoil, how things will improve, and how to never lose hope. Cuckoo has an inspirational message and metaphor to take a leap of faith overcoming fears and obstacles. The tune Butterflies is a powerful symbol of life post-transformation and after a great time of soul-searching. Slowly is a fantastic song about stepping back and appreciating nature’s beauty.
Each song is soulful and heartfelt, rich in emotions and depth. The imagery is beautiful and dreamlike.
The album Flower Of The Soul is available.
