SINGLE REVIEW: LUCY BLU - HIGH HORSE - NOTHING

Roaring back with a single vying to grab your attention, is Lucy Blu, with "High Horse". It seems a while since she seemed to be dropping Tim Prottey-Jones produced nuggets every other month in a powerful run of singles. This one is produced and co written by Alex Maile and is worthy to join that canon of work.

Starting to a fast drum beat and guitar, the Americana atmosphere is quickly created, though it fades away as Lucy delivers the opening lines over a more muted guitar.

"I know your game, you made one hell of a name

For yourself, we had things

Right on track, now you're back

Like a runaway train"

The return of someone causing upheaval is the last thing Lucy needs and she is quick to make her feelings known.

The chorus is out of the blocks like a favourite at Aintree on National Day, with Lucy saving her umbrage for the last line which is despatched with feeling.

"You come back into this town

Shooting all of us down

Like Billy The Kid from the West

Better rein yourself in

For it's smoke in the wind

Not sure who you are trying to impress

If you keep this up, well I guess you can just hit the road

Get off your high horse and go"

The second verse gives further vent to Lucy's frustrations as she frees herself from a toxic influence in her life.

"All you are is a liar, a cheater, trying to shift the blame

Firing your cheap shots again"

The song is littered with western references throughout and there is even time for a cheeky knowing spaghetti western sound effect. It's galloping good fun all round and a welcome return.

"High Horse" is not actually Lucy's first single this year, that honour goes to "Nothing" which seems to have been released very much on the down-low. Curiosity of course got the better of the #TEAMw21 cat, and in doing so we found a little Blu diamond, a seemingly lost treasure, or rather a touching little heartfelt ballad

It opens to a drum beat and acoustic guitar which set the scene for a relaxed mid tempo country ballad

"We could go out, a bar down town

Where the drinks are two for one now

Watch a ball game, hear a band play

Then complain that they're playing too loud"

There's a nice touch of wanting to be young and hip but realising that those days might not be for you now. Lucy has other ideas - "Are you in for staying in?"

"Cos the best seat in town

Is tangled up together on the couch

Save a seat for me, it's my favourite place to be

No matter what, when it's us, that will always be enough

We could find something to do,

But there ain't nothing like doing nothing with you"

The second verse is equally touching in a way only couples can be.

It's a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of "High Horse" and shows a totally different shade of Blu. It is a superior little love song, sung with real feeling, packed with neat little observations, if you missed it when it came out and you want to win brownie points with your significant other, then it's definitely worth a play.