In 2019, British-Brazilian singer-songwriter Liana Flores self-released her EP Recently. It deftly captured the innocence and lengthy reflection enjoyed during her teenage years. The breakout track, ‘Rises the Moon’, drummed up noticeable attention on TikTok, bleeding together saudade with gentle guitar melodies.
Fast forward five years. Flores has now signed with Verve Records and today delivers her full-length debut record, Flower of the Soul, an unpretentious trot through nature, love, and self-awareness.
The album opens with single ‘Orange-Coloured Day’, where Flores retreats to the forest, pondering the cyclical wisdom of nature. The song’s folk-jazz influences are all there, recalling the likes of Astrud Gilberto and Vashti Bunyan. This reverence for the natural world permeates the album, with tracks like ‘Crystalline’ evoking the solitude of beach walks and ‘Butterflies’ offering a bossa nova-inspired journey through city life.
But the standout track is ultimately ‘Now and Then’. This wonderful little number, with Jaques Morelenbaum’s melancholic cello, reflects on the darker sides of love but with a refreshing maturity. The lyrics “For love I would forget myself, for light upon the water, water on the light” suggest an understanding of the self that goes beyond mere confession. Flores seems to be acknowledging the true nature of love and loss, a lot like the interplay of light and water, demonstrating an emotional depth beyond her years.
The album’s production, helmed by Noah Georgeson and featuring contributions from Grizzly Bear’s Chris Bear and Brazilian virtuosos Jaques Morelenbaum and Tim Bernardes, is nothing short of exquisite. The arrangements are dense yet pared back, allowing Flores’ crystalline vocals to take centre stage. The instrumentation, from finger-picked jazz guitar to sleek strings, providing a dreamy backdrop.
Flower of the Soul is a quality debut. Liana Flores has served up an album that builds on her early promise whilst also establishing her as an obvious talent.
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