The second instalment of the singer-songwriters 'Our Friends' project has arrived, just months after hearing part 1. The next EP finds Lila sounding like she has grown so much since the last one and a sense of coming out from the from first stage of 'Our Friends' and is a fantastic piece of work that showcases the dedication to her art and talent Lila Tristram possess.
'Leaving Song' opens so beautifully, just like the start of a Pixar film, it graciously welcomes us to the new journey the singer is going to take us on, the choir opening sends chills down your spine. I for one think there is a great step up in the guitar playing here, which is apparent on the opener and the other tracks. Lila's vocals sound wonderful and the lyrics of giving thanks to the music and poetry, seems to be touching on how grateful the music she loves inspires her to write.
'Anymore' is a song I love off the EP, the chord progression is really interesting and the whole song sounds so fresh as if Lila has just written it. The imagery she portrays within the lyrics are utterly beautiful, having the sense of outdoor (mountains and ivory) within them, may of come through her many retreats to lakes and countryside places when writing part II. Then enters the lakes just mentioned previously on 'Thames II' that also features some perfect sounding strings. You really feel like the fog is clearing from the lake and emerges with such beauty, the elegance of it all is to die for on this short instrumental.
Darker tones arises in the guitar playing in 'Our Friends', with the mixing of the acoustic sounding so haunting by Mic Burrows. The way this EP stands so strong with its quality does feel like you are taken somewhere that Lila is walking through again, showing us what she has experienced. 'Our Friends Pt.II' finishes with 'Heyday' that features stories by her Grandmother and Father, hearing about how getting water was a task and being in the outside. It is done so well, the shift with the electric guitar picking away in the background does reinforce the sense of reflection.
Written by Tom Bedding
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