London Folk Magazine and News
Album Review - Topaz Lyon: ´Luminescent´
Topaz Lyon grew up in New South Wales Australia, surrounded by the mountains and sea, and this resonates in the contemplative stillness of her music.
Hypnotic fingerpicked acoustic guitar conjures up images of cascading rugged waterfalls as her breathy and understated vocal delivery whispers over the breeze with an effortless quality somewhere between song and spoken word. Soft, sweet and sincere; her voice is well suited to her self-confessional lyrical style.
Written in late 2019-2020 and recorded close to Lyon´s childhood home the following year, ´Luminescent´ is her first release after taking a hiatus from song writing. I appreciate the earnest and raw approach of her lyrics and arrangements, but I´ll be interested to see how their style develops more variety and contrast in future releases. In particular, I think the delicate string sections enrich the arrangements, and add an ethereal touch which could be a captivating foundation to build on.
Topaz Lyon´s meditative album provides a thoughtful yet relaxed listen. Tranquil and ambient but with undercurrents of unresolved tension, she is fearless in revealing herself through her songs. As she states herself: "As the awareness of the world shifts and expands, and our individual vision is illuminated and juxtaposed with those around us, it seems there could be no better time to revisit soul expression through the language of art and music."
