Emily Zuzik TORCH and TROUBLE

Emily Zuzik
Torch and Trouble
Maenades Music/Head Bitch Music

Sad Love, Flawed Characters, Edgy Subject Matter and Enough Twang to Sink a Battleship.

While we have our regular labels and PR Companies who supply RMHQ with New music on a very, very (too?) regular basis; it never stops being exciting when an act get in touch themselves; which is what happened here.
Now; the first mistake I made was thinking this was a very slick ‘debut album’; even though it was produced by friend of RMHQ Ted Russell Kamp; as the accompanying skimpy e-mail failed to mention Ms. Zuzik’s previous 14 (yes …. FOURTEEN) releases (albums, EP’S and singles) or her 2 album from her time in the delightfully named Alt. Country band Sex Fresh; nor her vocals on a Moby album or …… or ….. well; it’s fair to say Emily has had a long and reasonably succesful career before her music ended up on my stereo!
Onwards and upwards towards this newest release …….
The Country tinged Power Ballad Stay Wild opens the album in a way that means Ms. Zuzik ain’t taking no prisoners …. and it’s absolutely perfect for daytime radio in countries of all persuasions.
The LA native certainly mixes it up, with the ‘Blue Collar’ slow and sultry All That Love, showcasing Emily’s rich and dusky voice as it rips and tugs at the heartstrings, in a style reminiscent (to my ears) of a young Lucinda.
The singer certainly knows how to bring the words in these stories to life; especially so on the soulful love song, Magic and yet again during the emotionally brittle Wild Mustangs too.
Now I’m four hours into listening I think I’ve fallen in love with Emily Zuzik’s voice and especially her phrasing around the words and stories in Shadows and Get It Right; which occasionally drift aimlessly and evocatively into Cowboy Junkies territory.
There’s even a deliciously epic tale here too, The Band Plays On, which ends the album in almost cinematic fashion; and is highly recommended if you want to hear one song that typifies Emily Zuzik’s sophisticated stylings.
Selecting a Favourite Track has been a tad easier than I’d expected; although it’s a coin toss between two songs.
Even before I’d heard it; the title alone attracted me to Chinese Food and Donuts …… and it delivers faster than a Just Eat kid on a moped. A very clever song; which could easily have been a maudlin mess in lesser hands; but Ms Zuzik brings a freshness and stale beauty to this break-up song of the finest hue.
The other came to me later; as Trouble #1 is a left of centre surprise, mostly because it’s a ‘pedal to the metal’ Country Rocker that makes me want to hear a whole album like it.
So, which is the winner? Neither it’s a score draw!
I’m not sure which branch of Country Music to hang this album on, as there is certainly enough Twang and pathos to say much is Classic Country; yet the subject matter is quite edgy and the characters are all flawed in a way I associate with Alt.; so let’s hitch it to Americana or whatever we are calling it this week?
Whatever; this is an album I highly recommend.

Released 28th August 2020
http://www.emilyzuzik.com/
BUY DON’T SPOTIFY https://emilyzuzik.bandcamp.com/