Born in Zambia and raised in Denmark, Lucy Love (real name Lucy Siame) pretty much epitomises the post-Lady Gaga self constructed pop star conceptualist, with her overall ‘package’ being just as defined by costume, video, dance and design as it is by her music. Two years on from her debut album ‘Superbillion’, this second album ‘Kilo’ teaming up once again with erstwhile producer Yo Akim for eleven tracks that lean distinctly towards more club and radio friendly sounds, with a particular emphasis falling upon garage and electro-house influences. Unfortunately, while Lucy is clearly aiming for the sorts of hyper-stylised territory occupied by the likes of Grace Jones and the aforementioned Gaga, the end result proves far more conventional and predictable, falling closer to the likes of La Roux or a slightly limp Jahcoozi.
If opener ‘Poison’ manages to conjure dark atmosphere with its pressurised house rhythms and swelling bass synths, it’s deflated by the slide into limp pop-house that follows, complete with rapped vocals from Lucy that curiously call to mind Ya Kid K of Technotronic more than anything else, while ‘Who You Are’s fusion of vaguely trancey electro synths and hip-house vocals meanders rather than really going anywhere particularly daring, its buzzing synth breakdown verging upon being queasy more than anything else. While there’s certainly the occasional more intriguing moment on offer here; see ‘Thunder’s sudden acceleration from swooning soul up into clattering drum and bass, as well as ‘Dirty Sleazy’s Warrior Queen-esque wander out into deep sub-bass drops and clicking, spidery 808 beats, for the most part this album feels more like the sort of functional but not especially memorable electro-house crossover pop that’s seemingly tailor-made for malls and clothing stores. In many senses, it’s ‘I’m A Rapper’s chorus hook of “I’m not a popstar / not a rockstar†that rings most hollow of all here, and while ‘Kilo’ certainly offers up the occasional interesting dub-electro diversion, for the most part this album unfortunately doesn’t succeed in leaving much of an impression.
Chris Downton
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