Loria Boban is a London-based musician pioneering a new-wave funk/soul sound in the capital, with her EP, The Garden, being a great example of this. Her music is incredibly creative, drawing from many different genres across the board, appealing to audiences of all ages. If that sounds interesting, then you really ought to give Loria’s music a whirl – a full playlist can be found at the bottom of this review.

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Ashley Rees

Let’s Cross is the first song proper, starting with a busy percussive beat. It’s got quite a jazzy undertone to it, working amazingly well with Loria’s jazzy vocal style. The guitars in the background provide a nice backbone to the piece, although the drums and vocals are the real stars here. The backing vocals are present still, underpinning Loria’s gorgeous voice perfectly, as sparse guitar chords add a funky groove.

There are five songs on The Garden, keeping it short yet sweet – you’ll be coming back for more in no time! The first track is simply titled The Garden Intro and acts as a wonderful opening song for this EP. It’s an entirely vocal song, consisting of different vocal tracks layered over each other, sounding like an ethereal choir. It’s very beautiful as a whole, setting the stage nicely for the rest of the EP.

Purify Your Sight is a slightly slower song, having an almost reggae-esque beat. The backing effects are particularly astounding, with what seems like a harp trickling away, alongside the clean guitar sounds. The music picks up a little on the chorus, as different vocal lines merge together to create a harmonic feel. The lead vocals are a little distant at times, allowing your attention to wander across the rest of the instrumentation, able to take everything else in.

Lost & Found has more of an r&b quality, also featuring some interesting backing noises, imitating the rain falling at times. The organ is a lovely addition to the music, having an understated quality that melds well with the bass, weaving in and out of the track in a gorgeous fashion. Loria’s voice sounds effortless, drifting across this jazzy song in style.

So Far Away is the final track, taking the music in a slightly different direction. It’s much more stripped-back, also being the slowest song on The Garden. As a whole, the tune is very dreamy – the percussion is very slight at first, although it does pick up a little as the song progresses. The keyboards only serve to make the music sound even more ethereal, alongside Loria’s dreamlike voice.

The Garden is a little experimental at times, so it won’t be for everyone. However, those that take the time to listen and appreciate Loria Boban’s sound will come away with a newfound sense of peace, as it’s a very inspiring EP overall. Make sure you check out the stream below and buy The Garden if you like it!

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