Lindi Ortega is back with her first full-length album in three years, and the concept album is quite the storytelling achievement. Cinematic both in style and layout, Liberty tells the ascending journey of a phoenix, some of which is autobiographical, as she finds her freedom and leaves her past behind her.
Appropriately titled interludes organize Liberty in to a three-act structure: “Through the Dust” Parts I, II, and III. All three are brilliant, instrumental pieces with eerie vocals that solidifies the album’s Western movie feel (especially what sounds like a gunshot at the start of Part II). Through the titles alone, one can get a sense of the journey that’s told through their lyics:
I: “Afraid Of the Dark,” You Ain’t Foolin’ Me,” “Til My Dyin Day,” “Nothing’s Impossible”
II: “The Comeback Kid,” “Darkness Be Gone,” “Forever Blue,” “In The Clear,” “Pablo,” “Lovers In Love”
III: “Liberty,” “Gracias a la Vida”
Those eerie vocals are also heard on the first track “Afraid of the Dark,” adding even more chills to the lyrics:
Look at that wild palomino
Running like he’s scared
He caught the devil’s shadow
When he was unprepared
Oh the dark is gonna get ya
And there ain’t no place to hide
Yeah the dark is gonna get ya
It will come for you tonight
The melancholy “Til My Dyin’ Day” and somber swaying of “Nothing’s Impossible” and “Forever Blue” lean the most country on the album, while the rest of the tracks cross genres between pop, blues, rock and Mexican. “You Ain’t Foolin’ Me” has an 80’s groove to it, while “The Comeback Kid” brings to mind one of Ortega’s favorite directors, Quentin Tarantino, as does the song’s graphic lyric video:
Ortega solo wrote half of the songs on the album and brought in the talents of Aaron Raitiere, Bruce Wallace and John Paul White of The Civil Wars for the other half. The album closes however with a song written by Chilean musician Violeta Parra. Following Ortega and her character’s final reach of “Liberty” is Parra’s “Gracias a la Vida,” or “Thank You To Life.” The perfect selection to conclude this journey.
Liberty is a wonderful mix of bi-lingual songs and eclectic sounds from country to blues to rock, pop and Mexican influences with Ortega’s vocals shining through on each track. She tackles death, depression and her own struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) on the album, allowing the listener to enter her unguarded world. But Ortega counters that vulnerability with her strength to find the light and move forward.
Liberty is available everywhere on March 30.
For more information on Lindi Oretga, visit her website: www.lindiortega.com