Lou's still hoping for one good thing

EMERGING from the trip-hop scene that brought the world Tricky and Portishead, Lou Rhodes' searing vocals have been turning musical heads for almost a decade, writes Simon Parker.

I first came across her characteristic style, quite by chance, in an Edinburgh cafe. The enthusiastic barista introduced me to The Cinematic Orchestra, an eclectic electro-jazz ensemble who specialise in live improvisation. The album was Ma Fleur and the girl with the golden vocals was Lou Rhodes.

Ma Fleur, a chilled, down-tempo affair, represented something of a departure for Lou, who had previously been vocalist and lyric writer for Lamb, a drum and bass-influenced outfit with a love of jazz rhythms. Around the same time she also worked with such diverse artists as Sheila Chandra, 808 State and Eliza Carthy.

In 2006, Lou's name was all over the music press and being tipped by many as the likely winner of that year's Mercury Music Prize. In the event, her debut solo album, Beloved One, released on her own Infinite Bloom label, was pipped – some would say "robbed" – of the title by the much- hyped Arctic Monkeys.

Lou, who originates from Manchester but now lives in Wiltshire, then entered a period of relative quiet, no doubt as a result of the sudden death of her sister.

Now comes her latest solo project, an album to be released in March and a short promotional tour which takes in Exeter Phoenix on November 22. The forthcoming CD, One Good Thing – her third solo album – combines acoustic guitar with violin, double bass, percussion and self-penned lyrics, which ooze romanticism and personal tragedy.

"Sometimes I think, 'my god, I keep writing all these love songs'," she said.

"I'm probably a bit of an emotional junkie. Someone asked me if I was 'in love with being in love' and I think they definitely had a point."

A veteran of Glastonbury, performing there in 2005 and 2007, Lou's live performances are imbued with the same level of emotional intensity that characterises her recorded work.

One Good Thing was recorded for The Cinematic Orchestra's Motion Audio label in just two weeks of live takes and required only minimal editing and overdubs.

"If I had a reference point for the recording of this record it would be stuff like Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left or Nico's Chelsea Girl," she said.

The second track on the album, There For The Taking, was released as a free download this week and can be found at www.lourhodes.com.

Lou Rhodes is at Exeter Phoenix on November 22. Box office: visit www.exeterboxoffice.com or call 01392 263518.