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LOS ANGELES, CA- It’s been a minute since I’ve heard Amber Coffman perform live. In fact … to be frank … the last time I saw her perform was with Dirty Projectors, and that was years ago. It wasn’t until I did a little pre-festival research to get acclimated with various performer’s music. I had no idea that Amber had released an album in 2017 … and I dig it a lot. Better late than never, right?
Where The Dirty Projector’s music explored the edges of experimental pop, Amber’s new music has a more “classic” pop feel to it. My favorite cuts on her new album are the ones that have that classic Motown vibe; with her light soprano voice floating around grooving drums and rhythmic guitars like she’s channeling some of the soul that Smokey Robinson’s got.
Amber sounds as good live as she does on her records, and it was no surprise that I was enjoying the Motown vibed tracks the most from her performance. I was particularly fond of how Amber’s background singers harmonized with her. Every chord sounded perfectly in tune, and that made the melodies that much more sweet to enjoy (side note: does anybody know if one of her background singers-see photos below- used to be in the Dirty Projectors with her?).
If there was one little thing that I kind of wish she added to her set, it would be just a little more stage direction. I felt like there were a few moments where just a little bit of choreography- when she wasn’t playing the guitar herself- could have really accentuated the performance. Some of her music totally lends itself to just a smidge of subtle synchronized movement … plus, I totally know that she could pull it off (have you seen the Dirty Projector’s video for “Stillness Is the Move”?)
But with or without additional stage direction, I loved the direction that Amber is taking her music. It was watching an artist take a step towards finding her own voice, and it’s looking, and sounding, real real good.
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CLICK HERE FOR MORE THE GIRLSCHOOL 2018 COVERAGE!
LIVE CLIPS
Amber Coffman at Girls School 2017 2/3/18. Review and photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. pic.twitter.com/RZgY5NOm8b
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) February 15, 2018
Amber Coffman at Girls School 2017 2/3/18. Review and photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. pic.twitter.com/kcBk7swExu
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) February 15, 2018
