Lisa Hannigan - I Don't Know [Single]

Hoop Recordings

June 10, 2009, 02:16 PM

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I would imagine that the majority of you reading this review would previously know 'Lisa Hannigan' only as the Karen to 'Damien Rice's' Richard Carpenter. Her beautiful, restrained vocal contributions to both of the Irish Troubadours albums did not go unnoticed though and with seasoned session band in toe Hannigan has recently cast her own bid for the spotlight. If any song were to gain her a fanbase on par with her former touring partner it would be this one, it would fit perfectly into the playlist on either radio 1 or 2 and has a subtle charm that Damien Rice's more melodramatic songs always lacked.

The lyrics are your usual twee boy/girl pleedings and could easily have been pulled out of any Belle & Sebastian song but the vocal performance is so pretty and well delivered, the words ring with more authenticity than they deserve (I know this sounds like an insult but it's meant as a compliment). The chorus has a classic melody and measured beauty that off-sets the more predictable verse (which at some points almost lapses into Alanis Morisette territory) and the sparse instrumentation frames Hannigan's voice perfectly.

I can't think of anything resolutely negative to write about this song to be honest. On it's own terms it succeeds almost 100%, I could imagine a 40+ minute album of songs (last years Sea Saw from which this song was taken) following the same template may grow tiresome but 'I Don't Know' is a strong enough taster that I really wouldn't mind finding out for myself.

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