Love Inks originate from Austin, Texas. They are a female-fronted trio who generate sparse, captivating dream-pop, similar in style to fellow American nu-gazers such as The Bird And The Bee. The group’s first single ‘Blackeye’ was recorded using an analogue 8-track reel-to-reel; a technique chosen to enable the three-piece to capture the naked, unprocessed sounds of the instruments on record. Simple, repetitive melodies are Love Inks’ typical methodology, and the result is this unassumingly engaging and softly sultry number.
‘Blackeye’ employs simple instrumentation: throughout the track, guitar and bass subtly resonate, with rounded, simple, paper-thin guitar timbres. Apparently the group also occasionally add a bit of synth into the mix via a Moog Satellite, but ultimately it is lead singer Sherry LeBlanc’s vocals that take centre stage.
Soft, contemplative and slightly delicate, LeBlanc’s vocal style is feminine without being childlike or girlish: there is a hint of punchy sexuality within the slightly raspy grain of her voice, alongside a haunted, quietly melancholic quality that only a world wary adult could produce. The lyrical content follows this vibe, the sparseness perfectly complimenting the track’s instrumentation, as three lines repeat throughout the song, and like the rest of ‘Blackeye’, become mesmerizing.
Love Inks are currently in the process of booking dates for a UK tour to promote their debut album, due for release in May. In the meantime they are preparing for their performance at the legendary SXSW for the Hell, Yes! Showcase.
See this review at TGA at http://thegirlsare.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/review-love-inks/
