Artist: Lisa Hannigan

CD Review

CD Title: Sea Sew

Record Label: ATO Records/Red

By Adam Bowman

Opening everyone's eyes as the secret weapon for Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan now finds herself stepping off the ship that effectively brought her to American shores.  Hannigan's debut effort plants her feet squarely – though, perhaps not surely - in familiar territory for anyone who knows her name or face.  To her credit, however, she wanders.  “Sea Sew” shows that she is still trying to find her preferred stance.  The determination here is not unlike when a certain Canadian lady had an ax to grind, though the energy is focused more towards betterment through exploration than destruction.

Those expecting the smoky, haunting melodies will find them in spades.  Instrumentation plays a much larger role here than any other time we've heard Lisa.  “Sea Song” proves that the music can be just as haunting without her melodies, while “Keep It All” actually has a drive to it.  Everything comes across as lighter, though just familiar enough to recall every detail.  While her previous collaborative efforts feel like the drinks one may rack up on a Saturday night, “Sea Sew” is perfect Sunday morning music, as it will remind you of the fun you've had while still reminding you of lessons learned.