New York City’s Lael Summer is set to release her debut album, Burden to Bear, produced by Tomás Doncker and James Dellatacoma for True Groove Records, January 21st. A pitch-perfect, spot on serving of stylistic soul courtesy of a group of musicians that act like a great Gamble and Huff session group, Summer’s vocal prowess and lyrical honesty offers a fantastic first album, with a lot of promise for more greatness to come.
The appeal of Summer’s vocals lie not in power or over-doing it, but instead, restraint and inflection. Every word, every syllable is carefully considered, and the result is full of emotion. Her lyrics are brutally honest, and the vocals support it beautifully. Perhaps, none of the songs are more honest here than “You’re So Small.”
The entire album is a wonderful combination of retro soul sounds and newer pop, and this song is the perfect example. The lyrics are often hilariously or emotionally modern, but the sounds wrapped around it are classic soul. One is immediately reminded of Amy Winehouse when listening to Summer, specifically for these reasons, and it’s as if she is helping to carry the torch.
One of the definite highlights here is her cover of Hall & Oates’ “Do What You Want, Be What You Are.” I’ve always held a soft spot for this guilty pleasure duo, and this cover is a fantastic and original take on the original. It’s indicative of the classiness of the entire album. Even when a song is occasionally funny or even crass, there still remains a grace and attention to detail on this album.
The producers’ attentions lie first in style and undeniable groove to support Summer’s vocals and lyrics, and it’s done perfectly. Burden to Bear is about as good of a debut as one can hope for, caught up in a perfect storm of great production, fantastic singing, wonderfully honest lyrics, and the best possible instrumentation to support it all.
