SINGLE REVIEW: FLORENCE SOMMERVILLE - CALIFORNIA

If Florence Sommerville has an Americana Bingo card then she must be close to knocking off two lines and be heading for a full house, with an appearance at The Bluebird, and a headline Green Note show already under her belt along with a selection of Nashville co writes and a string of strong singles.

That run is going to continue with her latest a marvellously wordy concoction matched to a tune that somehow feels timeless, like you must already know it yet if you do it cunningly evades you!

"It's 10 o'clock on a Tuesday morning

Someone's yelling that the coffee's just too damned hot

Make it stop

As I pour another cup, you burst in

Saying all the things that I wished you would've said

That's the movie in my head"

There's a curious mix in that first verse, from the exact timing of the opening line, and that unsettling mundane argument happening at a time when Florence clearly has other things on her mind, before leaving us with the pay off that it is some sort of daydream. Florence's phrasing sees the lines beautifully blur together

The chorus is pure escapism, and where better to escape to, with "California" idealised in the reflection of the wing mirror on the cover picture featuring a tiny pair of discarded cowboy boots, to tie in with the chorus

"I could drive down to California, ignore that I'm blue

Stare at the shoreline, take a walk with no shoes

Get out of this day today

Let my life go a different way

I've got nothing left to lose

Finding me without you"

The second verse is a contrasting before and after summation, the first half still fondly recalling the good times of the past, while the latter describes the present, cleverly tying in with the first half by using the word "drench" but as a means to describe sunshine rather than rain.

"I used to love the rain, I didn't mind the cold

You'd hold me in your arms and

You would keep me warm

Sheltered from the storm

All I want is sun, drench me in the light

I'd go for late nights on the walk of fame

To wash away the pain

To get over you"

It just leaves Florence to ponder one last quandary

"Could I drop everything

And follow my dreams?

Is the ocean as big as it is seems?"

The final chorus is a features a majestic combination between singer and band who put in a sterling performance throughout, before just gently fading after the repetition of the final line.

There's lot to admire here, from the backing vocals on the chorus, through the clever word play and the inventive cover that all mark this as further development from Florence. Sadly it won't result in another crossing off on her bingo card as favourable review from #TEAMw21 was one of the first she captured.

Florence Sommerville will be appearing at Country Calling UK https://www.country-calling.com/