Song Review - Home

HOME

by Little May

Album: TBA (out 2015)

You're keeping me behind you

All I want to do is find you.

A year ago today I was sitting on a pebble beach in Brighton, watching the sun rise and listening to Little May's last single 'Dust' for the first time. It's crazy what can happen in a year. Even if you're in exactly the same place, you can't say there hasn't been a whole lot of change in your life and the lives of your friends and family, that guy at work you can't stand, the nice lady at the coffee shop or even the changes happening to the environment around you. Little May's Annie Hamilton, Hannah Field and Liz Drummond have had a busy twelve months. Since the release of their stellar self-titled debut EP they've been off around the world, touring North America and Europe and hitting up festivals like Bonnaroo and Hurricane Festival, with a Reading and Leeds debut to follow in August. Oh and they've been recording tracks for their debut album in New York with The National's Aaron Brooking Dessner on production duties. As you do. To think of the changes Little May have experienced over the past twelve months... crazy, right? If there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's the superb quality of their music and that brings us to the first taste of that previously mentioned debut album, 'Home'.

"Jet-setter, I think I'd better go, it's been five years waiting for the snow." Why hello, Hannah Field. How truly wonderful it is to hear your voice once more. The quiet intensity that permeates throughout the track begins its build from the beginning of 'Home'. It's in every deliberate drum beat and note from Drummond's guitar, the haunting effects created by the keys and Hamilton's electric lines and, of course, the captivating vocal performance from Field. In such a short career, Little May have become the absolute masters of the build up, adding subtle layer upon layer like no other. Drummond's guitar drives 'Home' into its second verse and you just know you're about to get some of those gorgeous Little May harmonies. When Hamilton and Drummond's voices enter alongside Field's you're doing a Liz Lemon and high-fiving a million angels. The repeated lines, "til we get, til we get home," bring the track to another stunning Little May conclusion. More and more sounds vie for your attention before it's all pulled away in an incredibly effective way, putting the focus entirely on Field's voice for one last perfect moment. Bravo. Don't knock the bravo. You'll be left a bit speechless at the end of the track too. And all you'll have to say is, "yeah, Bravo!" 

It's safe to say that Little May have got this whole debut album thing covered. 'Home' is simply another outstanding addition to a collection of songs from these talented performers that I can't seem to get enough of. And I can't wait until they get home either, because seeing this one live and all the other tracks that are going to make up their debut LP is really going to be something else. If home is where your heart is, right now my heart's with Little May. It's a most excellent place to be.

Matt Bond gives 'Home' five Jay-Z heads out of five... (because of the 'Empire State of Mind' vibes from the video)