On her debut recording
Murmurs, Okinawa-born singer Caroline Lufkin has, and features, a voice which a British critic would likely characterize as twee -- that is, a sweet, choirgirl voice which is decidedly on the ethereal end of the vocal spectrum. Especially on the two pieces which have been released as singles ("Sunrise" and "Where's My Love"), the achingly pure vocal renditions and precious lyrics might remind listeners (some perhaps uncomfortably) of an alternate theme from The Little Mermaid or the equivalent Disney/DreamWorks production. (In defense of the two songs, they are both gorgeous things of their kind and would make damn fine theme music for any such movie.) At times, Caroline's otherworldly purity brings to mind
Minnie Riperton (think "Loving You"). (And no, Caroline doesn't appear to have a five-octave range like
Riperton, but she has a striking voice nonetheless.) However, on a piece such as "I'll Leave My Heart Behind," Caroline uncorks a bit of pop diva passion, suggesting a dimension to her abilities which she is perhaps keeping under wraps. Another piece, "Everylittlething," is more eccentric, both melodically and lyrically, than anything else on
Murmurs, with thicker, more aggressive beats, and Caroline's sultry vocal whispers point her in yet another, more emotionally ambiguous direction, perhaps in the vein of
Björk. It could even be argued that the best songs on the program are three quiet little gems ("Bicycle," "Pink and Black" and "Drove Me to the Wall") that don't seem to strive for any effect at all but just carve out their own graceful little space. Norwegian producer Andreas Bjørck controls the beats, and his muted techno enhancements throughout are definitely a plus, as they temper Caroline's sugary sweetness on the more romantic material and give other pieces a touch of mystery. With success in the world of pop music often depending more on chance and connections than ability, Caroline's future is far from assured, but given the right material and continued sympathetic production, she certainly demonstrates talent enough to attract a substantial fan base. ~ Bill Tilland