RSSAlbum review: Let the Love Come, ArinMaya
Jun 08
Album / EP, Review ArinMaya, Let the Love Come, Nick Cassarino, review No Comments
I first heard the angelic voice of ArinMaya thanks to an article on Bama Love Soul, where they presented her previous project, the amazing Sounds Of ArinMaya. I was immediately mesmerised by the lady’s voice but also deeply touched by the emotional and spiritual content of the EP. Since then, I have been playing this project regularly, while waiting for a new one and an occasion to listen to more of ArinMaya’s heavenly music. My wishes have been granted and I am fortunate enough to have been introduced to Let the Love Come, her new project in collaboration with Nick Cassarino, which will be released on June 14th.
While her debut EP was an eclectic collection of tracks showcasing her vocal skills over varied genres which allowed her to explore different sides of her personality/art, this acoustic album is more focused on folk and soul, with a very interesting concept, that of love. Probably the most universal and recurrent of subjects, love will never cease to inspire artists, offering them infinite possibilities to describe the way it affects people, uniting them or tearing them apart. Let the Love Come is therefore an exploration of all the different expressions of love, from the purest to the most harmful, from a spiritual point of view to an acknowledgement of its power. The title is an invitation, as ArinMaya and guitarist Nick Cassarino encourage you to open your ears and hearts, to surrender to the beauty and passion of love, to its addictive, dangerous but healing power. What you will feel, then, is pure emotion, thanks to the wonderful acoustic guitar which enhances the incredible vocals and lyrics. I mentioned several times how acoustic music is one of the most emotional and rawest ways to spread a message. This album is yet another confirmation of this statement for me. From the very first notes of Around to the last of Lemon Drops, I could feel chills down my spine, a smile on my face and a rush of tears to the edge of my eyes. I may be too sensitive for some but I don’t care. I feel blessed every time I can experience such beauty and it helps me keep the faith in humanity and the world.
As the guitar discreetly provides for an emotional musical pattern, it leaves all the space for ArinMaya and Nick Cassarino’s voices to shine. Because the melodies are stripped down, the focus here is on vocals and lyrics, with the slight touches of guitar underlining the beauty and power of the latter. I could go on for days about the extraordinary and heavenly voice of ArinMaya but I feel words wouldn’t even do it justice. There are some times when words can’t express such experience. You have to listen to her to understand what I mean. You have to discover this gift for yourself and be touched deeply by it to know what it is all about. It is clearly one of the strongest points of this album and the reason why I will never tire of listening to it. There is something addictive about it, this healing and soothing effect that it has will make you want more.
The lyrics all revolve around love and its various expressions. The three covers are a way for ArinMaya to pay homage to the creators of the songs, while putting some of herself in them and giving them a different twist. The different, more intimate dimension and slower or more lively pace allow the listener to really pay attention to the lyrics and feel the emotions they contain. Special mention for Nothing Even Matters, one of my favourite songs by Lauryn Hill, which becomes even more powerful and brought me to the verge of crying. The original songs explore all the nuances on the wide spectrum of feelings and emotions love can trigger off. From beautiful relationships made of trust to break-ups that leave lingering regrets, to self-love and a quest for spiritual meaning, the singers present a colourful and compelling range of interpretations of love, where you will most definitely find some pieces of yourself. One of the most inspiring and touching songs, Lemon Drops closes this project perfectly, spreading some very positive and inspiring messages, when ArinMaya states “I know the sun will shine” and declares that “love’s a key to heal humanity”. There is nothing much I could add to that.
Let the Love Come will be released on June 14th but you can already pre-order it on ArinMaya’s Bandcamp. You can also discover and download the beautiful Lemon Drops there, or simply by clicking on the link below. Open your ears and heart and let it come…
Find out more about ArinMaya on her website
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