The EP starts with the wonderful title track. Single Girls is one of those rare, nearly perfect pop songs that you come across once in awhile. Dutch radio presenter and music icon Frits Spits said: “It’s only so often that you hear a song that makes you want to know all and everything about a musician. When I heard this song that’s exactly what I felt.” And who are we mortals to question the words of mr. Spits? All craziness aside, Frits Spits has a very good point in this case as Laura Jansen is a very capable songwriter who strikes gold with this fantastic single. Her vocals are as clear as the night and the passionate performance of the song is lifted up further by the piano that accompanies her vocals extremely well. Also it helps to create the exact emotional atmosphere that the song portrays in its lyrics. And you know what’s best? It might not even be the EP’s best song. How about that?
While we’re still in awe from the first song, Laura Jansen’s already started the next one. Come To Me has a more breezy, folky sound and the soulful vocals extrapolate the poetic lyricism Laura Jansen uses throughout the song. It’s very pure and the music touches the listener on a personal level. And very impressive as well is that she is able to make a song stick without an obviously catchy melody. It’s the subtlety that’s key in her music.
It might be a little ambitious to call your own song Perfect, and while I admit it’s not my favorite song on the release, Perfect really is another great pop song. The vocals are filled with emotion and somewhat remind me of Maria Mena. And the song comes off very natural, it has sort of a flow, like the tide. This is usually proof of very good songwriting, as is also the case with this song.
The End may be the album’s best track, or at least it was the track that immediately got to me. The subject of the end of a relationship (whatever kind of relationship it may be) is a subject that’s often written about in songs, and otherwise. But Laura Jansen describes it in a way that is both highly accurate and highly refreshing. And musically, as well as vocally the song adapts to the different stages and phrases being used. And apart from all that it’s a pretty nifty and crafty pop song that is quite catchy on top of it. Could be the follow-up single for Single Girls.
But then again, Wicked World definitely qualifies to be a radio single as well. Probably the most playful song on the EP and also catchy as can be. Describing a scene that could be in ‘Shrek – The Deleted Scenes’ (okay, now I’m being a little playful) as it pictures a naughty fairytale world as if to say that even fairytales have to go through life’s struggles and temptations. It’s an interesting song and one that I keep humming for days to come after I hear it. Cleverly positioned at the end of the EP so that you will have the music in your head long after it’s over.
I was quite sold after I heard “Trauma” awhile back, but Laura Jansen shows she’s an even more accomplished musician and songwriter a few years later. She’s worked and played with some accomplished indie artists and singer/songwriters and working with like-minded people has definitely stimulated her into becoming better and better at what she was already very good at. With “Single Girls” Laura Jansen puts a crown on her work so far and I would be very, very surprised if this isn’t going to be the big break she deserves. Thusfar “Single Girls” ranks in the the top3 of my favorite releases of the year.
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