Libby Johnson
Perfect View
There’s plenty of singer-songwriters trying to rise above the swarm that fill the hours at numerous coffee houses and after-dinner crowds sipping overpriced drinks. It’s a tough climb, and if the throng of loud talkers quiet down enough one gets to hear a singer with a lot to offer. With a seemingly simple, yet intrinsically far reaching vocal ability Libby Johnson does much with little. That’s not meant to detract from Johnson, but merely to highlight her strong delivery. Emotionally she digs deep with seemingly scant effort, able to tap into the heart with grace and ease, sounding like Sarah McLachlan and Gillian Welch singing the same song simultaneously.
Perfect View
There’s plenty of singer-songwriters trying to rise above the swarm that fill the hours at numerous coffee houses and after-dinner crowds sipping overpriced drinks. It’s a tough climb, and if the throng of loud talkers quiet down enough one gets to hear a singer with a lot to offer. With a seemingly simple, yet intrinsically far reaching vocal ability Libby Johnson does much with little. That’s not meant to detract from Johnson, but merely to highlight her strong delivery. Emotionally she digs deep with seemingly scant effort, able to tap into the heart with grace and ease, sounding like Sarah McLachlan and Gillian Welch singing the same song simultaneously.
Her voice is striking; deep in timbre yet remains smooth. For much of the album Johnson lays low, singing sincerely and with restraint, like a serious conversation or gut wrenching confession – all done with grace and ease. “Perfect View” is soft and slow and “Being Your Stranger” is reflective, descending and breathless vocals against rocky piano playing. “Be Your Revelator” is country-tinged with a little funkiness. It isn’t until “Coming Up for Air” that Johnson lets the hair down, strutting like Fiona Apple sans the guttural vocal crush. Johnson croons over slinky piano, taking her time. On “Sister You’ll Be Back Again” Johnson sings against slide guitar, making some hair raising acoustic music. But on the spare acoustic “I Know You Know” Johnson seems to bare the most.
With Perfect View Johnson is somewhere between singer-songwriter and caregiver - her voice warm, soothing and at times angelic. For a musician who’s performed at CBGB’s and seen her music used in film (Trust the Man) it’s evident her qualities as a singer translate beyond the norm.
Brian Tucker
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