Domino by Ella Thompson – Album Review

By Ellie Victor

As an introduction to a new voice in light jazz, with a side serving of soul with cinematic undertones, Ella Thompson’s Domino is undoubtedly a success, even if the listener is left craving a bigger variety of dishes by the end.

The title track is an appetising opener, rendered in sweet, soft vocals, which dance on light and airy soul-jazz arrangements. It lays down a lovely, amorphous soundscape that sets the mood for the rest of the record – even though it’s a mood which hardly shifts at all.

The smoky and sinuous ‘Lotus and the Lily’ is as an early standout, encapsulating the complexity and depth the listener might expect from a singer with Thompson’s credentials – she’s a music teacher in another guise – the track draped in rich vocal textures and layered musicality. It segues smoothly into ‘To Light The Lantern’, a true torch song for lost souls, a slow-burner with its musical embers glowing in the fade out.

Nevertheless, as neat as these three tracks on Side 1 are, you start to yearn for some dynamism. The album, although skilfully and authentically executed, seems to play it safe within its soul-jazz confines.

Side 2 ventures to shake things up a bit. Opener ‘Never Fight The Way You Feel’ introduces a neat soul groove, the lyrics diving into the themes of connection, yet paradoxically it fails to forge a strong emotional bond.

“Stylistic elegance”

‘Wouldn’t It Be Easy’ evokes the café jazz vibes of late-era Style Council, highlighting Thompson’s capability to explore different dimensions of jazz while staying rooted in her own unique style.

The album concludes with ‘When The Cold Wind Blows,’ a sleepy, late-night jazz number. It starts off mellow but gradually picks up pace, ending on a high note. Thompson’s vocals are captivating, gracefully weaving through the arrangement like a siren’s call in the midnight air.

Domino is a commendable first outing for Ella Thompson, to damn it with faint praise. It’s a good introduction to her as a new voice in light jazz, but leaves the listener wishing for a touch more dynamism. The album’s forays into soul and cinematic music do offer variety, but the emotional intensity takes a backseat to stylistic elegance. This leaves the album not as a fully-fledged roller coaster, but as a scenic car ride through a haunting landscape.

I’m certain Ella Thompson has the skill to embrace more dramatic ebbs and flows, to match the obvious potency of her vocal and compositional talents, in the future.
6/10
Top image: Lilli Waters