wed 04/12/2024

CD: Seeker Lover Keeper - Seeker Lover Keeper | reviews, news & interviews

CD: Seeker Lover Keeper - Seeker Lover Keeper

CD: Seeker Lover Keeper - Seeker Lover Keeper

Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby unite for a musical meeting of minds

Seeker Lover Keeper: three voices which work as beautifully alone as in harmony

In their native Australia Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Thorsby are award-winning solo artists in their own right, even if their reputations have for the most part not yet preceded them internationally. Seeker Lover Keeper is both the name of their collaborative recording project and its first release, the name easily calling to mind a tripartite structure in which the identity of each major player shifts with each track - writer, frontwoman, harmony.

With three formidable talents on board the project could never be anything less than a true meeting of minds, with each artist writing songs on which the others take the lead. “Even Though I’m a Woman” is an easy standout, the same combination of simple pop song and elegant vocal performance as the most famous of Seltmann’s previous compositions - the Sesame Street anthem “1, 2, 3, 4” she co-wrote with Leslie Feist. Here, Thorsby takes lead vocals as the others offer backing. “I think I’m in love with missing you more than I love you,” she sings coyly in sweet, whispery vocals that belie her words. 

Blasko’s vocal is similar if a little more throaty, her turns on “Light All My Lights” and “Bridges Burned” made more whimsical by the addition of a delicate piano riff or repeated handclap refrain. The lightness of the songs belies a certain lyrical world-weariness, giving what could easily have become hard-to-stomach sugary love songs into something with a bit more bite, and occasional use of drum machines and samples prevent the project turning into contemporary players rehashing that other all-female "power trio" Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt did so well.

Towards the end of the album the moment of sheer beauty that make you catch your breath grow fewer, but that’s less a criticism than it is a reflection of the standalone brilliance of its opening four tracks. This is a combination of skilled songwriting and three voices which work as beautifully alone as in harmony that seems destined to unravel more with every listen.

Watch the video for "Even Though I'm a Woman"

The lightness of the songs belies a certain lyrical world-weariness

rating

Editor Rating: 
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters