With an eventful past to her name already, New Orleans-based chanteuse Meschiya Lake must be used to turning heads. However, if you aren’t familiar with the name already then prepare yourself. Her maiden release, “Lucky Devil” is a thrilling album of bluesy-jazz heartbreakers that seek to capture the true essence of “old America”. Step up, buy your ticket!
“I’m Alone Because I Love You” (written by Joe Young and Ira Siras in 1930) starts the album on good terms. Similarly, “I Ain’t Got Nuthin’ but the Blues” is borrowed from the Duke Ellington songbook and, sounding not unlike Anita O’Day at her troubled best, Ms Lake sings it with atavistic flair, gunning for the heart at every opportunity. If she were a Forces' Sweetheart, you’d probably sign up.
Indeed, Meschiya’s voice has a heartworn quality that can’t be questioned, evoking thoughts of the great female blues and jazz singers now consigned to history. Musicianship throughout is never shy of excellent with a host of stellar contributions from fellow Big Easy musicians
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While the album consists mostly of cover songs – a historian’s goldmine of almost-forgotten blues songs dating back as far as 1911 – Ms. Lake also enters a few of her own songs into the equation, and it’s fair to say that her offerings (“Do For MySelf” and “Slowburn”) are delightful in their own right. The choice of songs strikes a heady balance between raggedy blues songs and classy big-band efforts, leaving the listener with little more to do than sit down and enjoy.
“The Curse of an Aching Heart” sounds like it was recorded many moons ago in a downtown speakeasy, kindly springing to life as the drunkards hoist their glasses, while a cover of “Gimme a Pigfoot” simply delights; so much so that could believe you were listening to Bessie Smith had you neglected the previous nine tracks.
If only it were available on phonograph. In lieu of being able to travel through time, one would be advised to settle for this album. As an in-depth revisiting of various periods in old-time music, this album is incredible. Even to ignore the historical value is to hear an album that truly serenades the ear and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll hear a better album this year.
Available from CD Baby.