Australian singer Lenka will grace Houston’s House of Blues on Thursday with her saccharine voice and eclectic, indy-influenced bell and horn instrumentals.
Lenka’s melodies and lyrics are as addictive and sweet as lemon drops, with lines like ‘I’m just a little bit caught in the middle/ Life is a maze and love is a riddle.’
The eclectic feast of chimes, pianos and drums peppering the backdrop of Lenka’s songs will satisfy listeners’ ears. When Lenka’s lyrics fail to deliver, it’s easy to rejoice with the jubilant parade of horns and melodies accompanying her gossamer voice. The stale line ‘I won’t let him win, but I’m a sucker for his charm’ becomes triumphant with a backdrop of gloating horns and rock-inspired guitar.
Fans of the ephemeral voices and light-hearted tribulations of songstresses Regina Spektor and Imogen Heap should find new favorites in Lenka’s portfolio, although Lenka doesn’t delve into more poignant, realistic problems as do her counterparts.
Unfortunately, Lenka’s focus on featherweight love tribulations and sprightly victories should be considered cruel and unusual punishment for anyone with rougher tastes.
She doesn’t push the boundaries of language and is content to rely on clich’eacute;d imagery, resulting in banal lyrics such as ‘Underneath the moon, underneath the stars, here’s a little heart for you.’
However, Lenka’s scintillant voice and the eclectic backdrop of chimes, horns and guitar make it easy for listeners to overlook her vacuous lyrics.
Think of Lenka as a sweet romantic comedy – leave your sense of emotional maturity at the door and smile at the gentle tumbles and sweet little victories.
Tickets run for $17 to $25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
