The Appealing Uneasiness of Listening to LRain (Live at JBL)

Published: July 23, 2021, 7 a.m.

b'L\\u2019Rain is the musical persona of singer and multi-instrumentalist Taja Cheek, whose new album,\\xa0Fatigue,\\xa0begins with a lyrical quandary: \\u201cWhat have you done to change?\\u201d\\n\\nWhat follows is a journey of self-discovery, the songs interwoven with home recordings of practicing piano, clapping games, and everyday life. The first full length song, \\u201cFind It,\\u201d repeats the mantra \\u201cMake a way out of no way,\\u201d looking for a path out of darkness. An unexpected sample of a preacher at a friend\\u2019s funeral service \\u2014 recorded with permission by L\\u2019Rain \\u2014 interrupts the chant promising that \\u201cGood days outweigh my bad days.\\u201d\\n\\nBut L\\u2019Rain doesn\\u2019t provide quick solutions for making change. Rather, she takes us on a journey that evades easy understanding. By avoiding conventional structures, L\\u2019Rain asks the listener to lean in close to the music. The sounds are at times unsettling \\u2014 on \\u201cBlame Me,\\u201d the guitar warbles in and out of tune \\u2014 though the uncomfortable moments are blanketed over on songs such as \\u201cTake Two,\\u201d where warm synthesizers mix with angelic voices. The melodic hooks and captivating rhythms on \\u201cSuck Teeth\\u201d reveal L\\u2019Rain\\u2019s command over the experimental work \\u2014 she is meticulous about building layers of sound on her many instruments.\\n\\nHad L\\u2019Rain pursued a more traditional style of songwriting, or further fleshed out\\xa0Fatigue\\u2019s catchiest moments, the record might be an easier listen \\u2014 but not as rewarding. Instead, its undulating moods and nonlinearity mirror the unpredictability of human emotion and the up-and-down nature of personal change. To help decipher this album,\\xa0Switched On Pop\\u2019s Charlie Harding spoke with L\\u2019Rain at JBL\\u2019s flagship store in Soho in front of a live audience.\\xa0\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices'