It’s always a pleasure to review the up-and-coming local talent. Glasgow has so much good music to offer; we should endeavour to share it with the rest of the world.
Elvira Stitt is no exception to this. At just 18 years old, the student from Motherwell College has just released her new EP entitled ‘The Transparent Man’. The three tracks affectively show-off Elvira’s vocal and musical talents, hopefully cementing her success.
Opening with the title track, ‘The Transparent Man’ is the epitome of chill-out music. Right from the start, Elvira’s sultry vocals are put on show for all to hear. The composition follows the classic, laid-back combination of intricate acoustic guitar backing, wandering piano, and soft female vocals. This track is perfect for the times in life when you just want to close your eyes and shut the world out. The lyrics of the song, however, are something quite different. Admittedly they are a little depressing; telling of the struggle of being in a substandard relationship. However they are quite cryptic and are open to interpretation. After one track we are already given a good taste of what Elvira can do.
‘Woodland Pillow’ features some pleasant harmonies and guitar work but is arguably the weakest track on the EP. The strummed guitar accompaniment in the chorus is too loud, drowning out the otherwise amazing vocals. This section is also slightly slower than the verses, causing a slightly awkward tempo change which distracts from the rest of the piece. Having said that, the track also has its merits. As previously mentioned the vocals on ‘Woodland Pillow’ are very delicate and display true talent. The guitar accompaniment in the verses compliments the vocals well and fits with the over-all concept of the track.
‘Headstrong (Under the Weather)’ is simply beautiful. A heart-felt ballad with piano accompaniment, this track discusses the dilemma of being in love with someone who is unloving. The stripped-back, bare partnership of piano and voice really does the subject justice and allows Elvira to bear her soul and let her emotions out. This is arguably the strongest track on the EP.
Overall, ‘The Transparent Man’ is well-composed and pleasing to the ear. It is the ideal chill-out collection and truly displays Elvira’s talent. She has real potential and hopefully will have a very successful year.
‘The Transparent Man’ is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and Google Play.
