El May

El May (Self-released)

By Eleanor Whitney
Published: February 10th, 2010 | 7:00am

El May’s self-titled debut is a moody, folk pop–inflected gem. From the first guitar strums of the lushly harmonic “Fire/Freezer,” which slowly builds up to a densely orchestrated romp, to the final haunting harmonies of “Hold Yourself” — to listen to this album is to be transported. The journey is led by the quietly confident Lara Meyerratken, the multi-talented singer-songwriter and musician behind the moniker of El May. Before recording her own music, Meyerratken played with indie rock luminaries such as Ben Lee, Luna, and Luscious Jackson and her arrangements recall the best woman-fronted alternative records of the 1990’s.

Meyerratken’s singing, alternatively breathy and strong, is at home with singers such as Feist, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Alison Statton from the Young Marble Giants. The songs are propelled by strong narratives — “Draining a Lake” follows the narrator’s internal pondering as a departed lover returns. Walking on sand, she asks herself, “Wouldn’t I know by now?” as a chorus of horns slowly build up behind her voice. The sonic environment is so dense that the listener can tangibly feel herself in that very setting.

“Don’t You” employs layers of vocal harmonies and its sunny instrumentation recalls the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds (Capitol), but with a wish for escape instead of reveling in the moment. On a different note, “Decide on a Direction” has an infectious, electronically-inflected groove. The songs on El May are well-crafted and the arrangements deeply thought out; by the end of the record there are heavier, more introspective songs that can, at times, slightly drag. The skillful production begins to sound too smooth, but overall, the quality of the songwriting and the clarity of the emotion on El May’s debut are what most effectively come through.

El May official site

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