Haydé

Demo recorded in August 2006.



Tracklisting



1. Nothing Is For Ever; 2. Move Along; 3. Wait; 4. One Of Them; 5. Never Know; 6. Pride Love Shame Pity; 7. You For Me?



Review

“It’s so right of him to like me” is the last lines spoken in this demo. Whether she’s talking to me or about the guy in tale of the story this is a (somewhat surprisingly) pretentious line. But perhaps I’m pretentious for thinking it’s about me.



After greeting us with her cover of the future Kaiser Chiefs song “Heat Dies Down”, Haydé Walraet of White Lies gives us her demo with seven of her own songs. Some early songs such as “You For Me?” and demo opener “Nothing Is For Ever” have been reworked and as a result, especially in the former, seemed to have lost the vibrant, acoustically strong sound they had. This is not to say they still are decent enough songs. “Nothing Is For Ever” now has more emphasis on Haydé’s voice which has become haunting as she whispers “I’m so scared” and warns us “I’m just not very good with words”.



Well if she really does think this then she needs a lesson in self confidence as song number two on the demo, “Move Along”, is arguably her best work on here. Here we get a sensible mix of guitar strum and picking here that oozes a sort of semi-country vibe that could easily, over time, evolve into something similar to Sufjan Stevens.



All the songs here have an individuality about them and Haydé even addresses the subject of being individual in her song “One Of Them”, where she proclaims to us that by trying to be “one of them” is “just not worth it” as she then goes to an abrupt finish.



It’s very easy to be critical of demos but then again, you only have to take into account that they are only learning. Haydé shows promise. Think of her as a female Damien Rice slowed down and actually strumming his guitar for once along with teachings from many listens to Elliot Smith CDs. Yes, the music is often simple. Yes, mistake are made here and there. But she’s only human and she doesn’t pretend to be anything else.



By Ray at 21st Century Music