Lara Taubman processes trauma to find a way home with her new album The Gospel of Getting Free.

By Graeme Smith

Lara is an indie Americana singer songwriter from New York City whose music is inspired by the likes of Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and David Byrne. She has released three albums since she started writing music in 2015 and uses her songs to guide her through complex trauma. She describes her new album The Gospel of Getting Free as “a ship on which I can finally sail home.”

The album opens with Home At Last which instantly establishes the album’s themes through a gentle and heartfelt number. Storytelling lyrics draw you in, delivered confidently by Lara’s unique vocals. All the while, a folk-infused rock instrumental keeps the emotion high.

The Siren is a more delicate and intimate moment, opening minimally with pensive guitar before finding a dark, brooding groove. Metaphor-rich lyrics don’t spare any detail. The Reason I Was Born livens things up with some blues rock before Assyrian King rounds off the album’s early listening with a dreamy, storytelling highlight.

Other highlights include the simmering spoken word The Odyssey, the vibrant and confessional Sugar, the anthemic and affirming Sing Your Song and closing title track The Gospel of Getting Free. The latter finishes the album’s story with a slow-burning track that’s full of narrative and immersive folk. Its chorus will stick with you.

The raw honesty running through the ten tracks of Lara’s Taubman’s album makes it one of the most compelling records I’ve ever heard. She delivers each story with passion and character all while giving us plenty of diversity when it comes to her instrumental arrangements. It’s a very impressive effort.

The Gospel of Getting Free is out now via Atomic Sound. You can check it out below.