'Little Red Boots' - Lindi Ortega [album review]

LINDI ORTEGA – Little Red Boots (Last Gang Records)

Written by Krissi Weiss

Hailing from Canada, alt-country singer-songwriter, Lindi Ortega, had been struggling through the independent music scene of Toronto for years before she was signed to Cherrytree Records and, more recently, Last Gang Records.

Ortega has lent her vocals as backing singer for Brandon Flowers and she featured on Major Lazer’s EP from 2010, 'Lazers Never Die'. Support slots for Keane, Noah & the Whale and Kevin Costner & Modern West (yep, THAT Kevin Costner) began to open doors for Ortega over the past few years and it was in 2008 that she released her first label-backed EP, 'The Drifter'.

'Little Red Boots' is being branded as her debut album despite the fact the albums 'The Taste Of Forbidden Fruit' and 'Fall From Grace' were released independently in 2001 and 2007. While there are the usual country music choices on 'Little Red Boots' (crying lapsteel, despondent harmonica and the obligatory presence of 6/8 every time the tempo slows), it really is more of a pop album. The energy is high, most songs have a persistently catchy hook and Ortega isn’t afraid to play the sultry card.

For someone who has come from the independent scene, I am surprised she chose to play guitar on only three songs. She did utilise a skilled backing band for the rest and obviously focussed on her vocals which are strong and dynamic. Lyrically, the album is, for the most part, cheeky and playful and her more heartfelt moments feel a little juvenile.

That said, it could possibly have mass appeal in that ultra-poppy, ultra-shiny, Taylor Swift sort of way.

This article was originally published at http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/