Laura Veirs – ‘Don’t Lose Yourself’ (Nonesuch) Released 19/03/07

Reading about American singer-songwriter Laura Veirs makes you expect a run-of-the-mill folk-inspired pop minstrel, but listening to ‘Don’t Lose Yourself’ turns all these stereotypical expectations on their head.  Veirs has a mellow yet distinctive voice on the track, which itself is a glittering mix of synthesised drum beats and traditional piano accompaniment.  Superbly crafted lyrics are picked out by harmonies which are hard not to lose yourself in.  B side, ‘Bright Glittering Gifts’ doesn’t quite match up to the sparkle of the first track, and begins to wander a little into Sheryl Crow/Heather Nova territory: standard folky-rock.  Let’s just hope the album shows some more brilliant originality like this single.