Remember that time when Justin Timberlake brought sexy back? Well, Rochester singer-songwriter Mikaela Davis is doing the same thing, but for the harp! You don't see too many harpists these days, but Davis is one of the best around, and her new EP Fortune Teller is her best work, and could do wonders in introducing her to larger audience.
Davis has become well-known for a series of You Tube covers featuring her harp skills, with a brilliant take on Sufjan Stevens' "Casimir Pulaski Day" being the most popular, but she's also a fantastic songwriter in her own right. Her self-titled 2012 album illustrated both her songwriting abilities, as well as her knack for combining elements of classical and pop. She takes that to another level on Fortune Teller, which is likely her strongest work yet.
In July, Davis released "Feels Like Forever" as the lead single off Fortune Teller, and it's the best track here, or at least the most immediately accessible. With a memorable chorus, and a strong melody, it's track most likely to attract pop audiences to Davis' work. The album has much more to offer, however, for those who are open-minded. The two-minute instrumental "Interlude In The Sky" is the most purely beautiful composition here, as well as the best showcase of Davis's skills as a harpist.
Davis seems to enjoy mythical, evocative imagery, as seen in tracks like "Lady Lavender" and "When The White Horse Takes Me Away," both of which read like a psychedelic take on the Middle Ages. Imagine Syd Barrett hanging out with Geoffrey Chaucer, and maybe dropping a little acid, and you'd be somewhere in the ball park.
The lyrics on this record are consistently fascinating, and the melodies are strong throughout. When the Fortune Teller's breezy 21 minutes are up, it'll hard not to wish it was even longer. For now, though, we'll have to make do with what Davis gives us, and hope this ridiculously talented artist gives another full-length record soon.
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