Lissy Trullie
Self-Taught Learner
A mini-album with six cuts, all self written except a reworking of ‘Ready For The Floor’ which was written by Hot Chip, one of the lamest crews ever to put down their GameBoys and limp into a studio. Already something of a legend in New York, Ms Trullie has recent performed some shows in Europe albeit having to cope with her drummer falling ill, we wish him a speedy recovery.
With a short blonde bob these days and clutching a vintage Stratocaster that makes her look petite, Lissy is so NYC it almost hurts. It’s great when an act can actually sound deeper than their initial impact or image (in this case an ‘out’ city party girl with a fashion scene orientation).
On these selections, Trullie’s choice of Eben d’Amico as guitar foil proves wise. He must be the guy who played bass in Saves The Day, I think. Here, he co-wrote ‘She Said’. It’s a post-Velvets sound that’s achieved here. Trullie sounds like a habitual sulker, but that’s as good a reason as any to write songs, the drummer (Josh Elrod) sounds really on the ball. It’s very much ‘what’s happening in my world’ lyrically, no wider issues are addressed. As I said, SOOO New York….on-the-beat and played straight for the most part which gives a cartoonish feel, comic stories in song rather than drawn in linear monochrome. ‘She Said’ has a driving catchy appeal. The title track, taken at a Cars clipped beat, sounds heartfelt and has sharp chord chops slicing in. Vocally the ghost of Debbie Harry watches from the shadows, nodding at Nico. Again it’s hear-my-angst territory but Trullie’s take on love and regret so valid as anyone else’s. The arrangement does the song justice. Things brighten up for ‘Money’ which is a faster choppy cut with a semi-throwaway delivery, it’s like a ‘Parallel Lines’ outtake.
What makes this set listenable is the great drumming and the care taken with the vocals and chorus snatches. What it lacks is anything that goes much deeper than a personal dilemma lyric fixation but an artist this sussed clearly has the potential to roam further and I hope she does
Pete Sargeant www.fairhearing.co.uk
