photo by Ken Rothman; photo courtesy of Knyvet

EP Review of Lovina Falls: Would That It Were

Lovina Falls‘ Would That It Were is a five-song EP that features the two singles I reviewed last year – “Tragedy” and “Ellery Way” – and adds three additional catchy, memorable, jangly alt-rock bangers, a bit rooted in an ’80s New Wave style but with depth and, often, ominousness that’s modern and timeless.

The band is Valerie Forgione’s project, and she’s joined by a variety of collaborators – Brenden Cobb (guitar on “Tragedy” and “Ellery Way”), Todd Demma (drums on “Light and Low,” “Tragedy,” and “Ellery Way”), Chuck Ferreira (drums on “In The Corner”), Matt Klain (bass on “Ellery Way”), David Minehan (guitar on “Light And Low,” “About The Sun,” and “Tragedy”), Alice Lee Scott (guitar on “About The Sun” and “Tragedy”), with Carrie Ingber credited with “special thanks… for the mix assist.”

cover design by Valerie Forgione; image courtesy of Knyvet

None of the songs on Would That It Were are straightforward rockers. Rather, they’re creative, offbeat, alternative and art-rock creative productions steeped in the more exploratory, experimental tenets of rock tradition, the branch of rock ‘n roll that encompasses David Bowie, Lady Gaga, the Eurythmics, and the B-52s. I’m reminded of each of them during different songs on this EP.

The exploratory yet rockin’ nature of “Tragedy” recalls Bowie for me; it’s probably the track most likely to appeal to straight-up rock ‘n roll fans. The Gaga connection isn’t as obvious, in that I’m not sure I hear a song she’d sing on this album, though groovy EP-opener “Light and Low” comes closest, though even with its hypnotically swirling, flowing nature, it perhaps strays too far from any big-vocals moments to properly take advantage of Lady G’s vocal range. It’s for damn sure she’d appreciate it, though! In fact, “Light and Low” is the song from the EP’s three new entrants that most often just pops into my head unannounced; it’s hypnotic, I tell ya!

“In the Corner, a Fire,” the most electro-rock song on the record, hints at an Annie Lennox vehicle in a couple of its more brooding spots, though the rhythm and groove are really more B-52s-ish. That’s not to say any of these songs sound like any of the referenced artists. Rather, Valerie Forgione makes them all her own, with her subtle musical stylings and identifiable vocal traits evident on each and every track.

The only other song on this EP I didn’t write about last year, “About the Sun,” has a hauntingly old-west twangy guitar part, with some of the rhythmic, almost cheer-captainish vocals (Gwen Stefani, anyone?) seem abrupt and out-of-place when introduced but then blend back into the song as if they’ve always belonged there. In the end, the livelier vocals provide an interesting counterpunch to the otherwise floating, dream-rock style of the rest of the song. With each listen, it comes across as increasingly clever.

I also like that the EP ends with “Ellery Way,” which, if I had to assign a sound to Lovina Falls, seems the closest to a signature song on the record. It’s so uniquely, persistently, simultaneously alt-rocking and dreamy, its steady rhythm seeming to measure the song’s relentless advancement. The haunting vibe of the song is as engaging yet unsettling as it was when I previously reviewed it. “Ellery Way” is so wonderfully unique and creative that this song alone would be worth the price of admission (to the EP, I suppose, though that’s a weird way to phrase it, so I’m going to pretend I mean admission to a Lovina Falls concert, which I’m also firmly convinced would also be wicked-cool).

In any case, if you’ve not yet heard Lovina Falls, this record is an ideal audio travelogue of the band’s musical style. For Bostonians, Lovina Falls (aka Valerie Forgione and friends) is a band you must know to call yourself an engaged member of the local music scene. (Not a big ask; you’re really gonna like Would That It Were.) For those elsewhere, it’s a chance to check out some of the most forward-looking, enjoyably creative music comin’ outta Boston’s local scene.