Liz Seaver: Turbulent Bliss

The second self-released album from Liz Seaver sees the Skerries singer songwriter building on the promise of her 2005 debut, Til The Day Fades In, released when she was a fresh-faced 18-year-old.
The now 26-year-old Liz is a tad more world-weary than her tender years would have you believe, as evidenced by the emotive folk-pop of lead track ‘Inside Out’. It’s polished and radio-friendly, and it must be said the entire album displays a sureness of touch, with a full band fleshing out Seaver’s piano and acoustic guitar-driven compositions, as she veers from acoustic folk-pop to driving American-scented rock.
Seaver cites Sheryl Crow as a big influence, and the Missouri native’s style is writ large over tracks like ‘Can’t Help Myself’ and the catchy ‘The One’, while the Nashville-tinged ‘Exposed’ wouldn’t seem out of place on a Jon Bon Jovi solo album.
Elsewhere, ‘I Knew’, builds to a stirringly emotive singalong chorus, ‘Hold On’’s heavily multi-tracked vocals mean that there are multiple Lizes to love, while album centrepiece ‘Down In Tears’ is a massive piano ballad that tugs insistently at the heartstrings and could yet provide her with an enormous hit.
While Seaver’s voice is an impressive instrument, she does tend to over-cook the vibrato at times, when a less-is-more approach might serve better. ‘The Voice Inside’ gets the balance just right, however, gentle guitar and violin forming the backdrop for her vocals to shine without too many bells and whistles. Seaver’s spiritual and musical home is clearly across the Atlantic – and with Turbulent Bliss, she might just have the tools to make it there.

Key Track: 'Inside Out'