Shilpa Ray, Coin Under Tongue, My Education, EGM at Death By Audio
Shilpa Ray has a spectacular voice, and a really likable, spunky personality, but from my first time seeing her last night at Death By Audio, it seemed that her songs aren’t quite as engaging or distinct as she herself is. “Generic” is a terrible word, but there wasn’t enough of her own brandmark to the whole thing. There is the harmonium, which sounds ten times as interesting when only she is singing over it, but gets lost when the band kicks in and everything becomes slightly predictable and non specific, leaving you to think, oh with this voice there are so many incredible possibilities! A lot of it may have to do with the aesthetic choices than the songwriting itself. She has a nice way of turning melodic phrases and leaving them low, but the songs have somehow got to match the quality of her voice. There is the amazing Shilpa and there is everything else that takes a backseat and recedes into oblivion. Good show, nonetheless.
Download “Filthy and Free”
