New CD Review of...
Rachael
Yamagata
Happenstance
By: Nicole Roberge
Rachael Yamagata spent years in
a Chicago based funk band before deciding to head out on her own. The 26 year
old D.C. native broke away from the old familiar sound she had grown accustomed
to, and instead brought out her own true soulful sound of emotive vocals,
dazzling piano melodies and compelling songwriting. “Happenstance” (Arista) was
released June 8, and Rachael Yamagata’s music has been causing quite a buzz ever
since.
Happenstance opens with “Be Be Your Love”: the listener’s first introduction to
Yamagata’s unique essence in her music. Her smoky voice and heartrending songs
project through a beautiful flight of instrumentation. Perfectly orchestrated,
“Be Be Your Love,” offers different elements throughout, bringing new insight
into the musical realm that Yamagata permeates.
“Letter Read” follows, a more upbeat tune that demonstrates the eclectic styling
in Yamagata’s music. The third track is “Worn Me Down,” a song that accentuates
Yamagata’s range and her ability to put somewhat downtrodden lyrics with upbeat
musical styling. Here, as in several other songs, she examines love lost, and
the ingenuity in her songwriting really shines through: “Worn me down like a
road/ I did everything you told/Worn me down to my knees/I did everything to
please/but you cant stop thinking about her.”
“I’ll Find A Way” makes the fifth track on the record, a soothing ballad,
emphasizing Yamagata’s emotional voice with light instrumentation, which in turn
focuses on her ability to genuinely sing each song.
“1963” is a real highlight of “Happenstance.” A jazzy tune, it is reminiscent of
the year: “I find it to be magical/I feel like I’m loving you in 1963/Flowers in
my hair/ Little bitty hearts upon my cheek/Baby you’ll be on my mind until I
kiss you next time.” Yamagata shines here with a bright energy and breezy
lyrics, which elicits a laidback quality. She sings, “Baby, come on, take a ride
in my little blue bug/Keep the windows down/Don't forget to celebrate; the
radio's up,” and it makes you want to do exactly that.
Other highlights of “Happenstance” includes “I Want You,” a soulful and quirky
song, with varied instrumentation and a bright cabaret feel to it. Here, she
sings: “I want you/Or no one/No one else will do/You, or no one/No one is the
only one to fill the empty space I hold for you.” Though it is yet another
forlorn tune of love lost, Yamagata expresses herself here with riveting
eloquence, another expression of her cunning talent as a songwriter. “Moments
with Oliver” shines in just one minute and two seconds, a purely instrumental
piece that perfectly accentuates the record and the intense blend of music
Yamagata brings to it.
“Quiet” closes the album with a perfect piano structure, glorious vocals, and
heart wrenching lyrics. Though it closes the album, it also sends the message of
a closing relationship—something that Yamagata greatly reflects on and sings in
deep and poignant sorrow. A reflection on an ending, Yamagata sings with great
beauty and passion: “It'll be just as quiet when I leave/As it was when I first
got here/I don't expect anything to change when I leave.”
Rachael Yamagata is brilliant on “Happenstance”—a unique and brilliant blend of
entrancing music from a young, yet already accomplished singer-songwriter. She
never holds back in her writing, her candid nature shining through in her
insightful and moving lyrics. Another highlight to the already captivating
“Happenstance” would be that of the bonus track at the end of “Quiet.” Rachael
Yamagata is surely an artist who will make her mark in music, and a mark that is
sure to be around for a while.
For more information on Rachael Yamagata and “Happenstance,” visit
www.rachaelyamagata.com
(review previously published on www.pluggedinmusic.org)