Libero Vox is the musical project of Luke Golledge, and his determination to maintain his creative independence lead him to name the band after a Latin expression meaning free or liberated voice. The debut album of Libero Vox, the self-released Soul Conviction, is a confluence of styles and sounds, and although it never quite reaches the heights it is aiming for, his poetic lyrics and talented instrumentation make this a solid debut.
The songs were written and conceived independently of one another, and the result is an album with a wide variety of styles. Pop, folk, punk and soul all make an appearance, although there are similar lyrical themes throughout as Golledge bares his soul for all to see.
Life’s Simple Pleasures open the album, and it’s a good introduction to Libero Vox. It’s a simple pop folk song about appreciating the simple things in life, and a good sign of what’s to come. Comme Ci Comme Ca plays some acoustic flamenco against some heavier power riffs, but never really allows the two to interplay to maximum effect.
Hey Atlas is a more soulful introspective number, and a perfect showcase for Golledge’s personal lyrics, while Some Music is his stab (and a reasonable one) at a country song. Comfort Zone is another personal journey, with a haunting chorus, and the one-two punch of The Mirror and Route 666 are excellent high speed rock numbers, easily the high point of the album.
Finally, Love and Outside In close out the album with a funk soul rock feel, and is another excellent pair of songs. Golledge saves the best for last on the album; the last four tracks are stronger than anything that’s come before.
In the music industry, there’s a fine balance between having all your songs sound the same, and losing all coherence by having them all sound different. Some artists pick the second option deliberately, choosing to follow their hearts instead of abandoning songs that don’t fit the mould. In those cases, the artist has to be able to master, or at least show an affinity for, all the styles they’ve picked.
Libero Vox have done a fine job of straddling the genres, although they have not completely mastered any of them. Some of the songs feel a bit like experiments that only just became complete songs, but none of them feel like filler. Golledge’s lyrics and vocals tie the songs together into a neat package.
Of course, the most admirable thing about the album is its fiercely independent release. Golledge is a self-made man, and his determination to write and record what he wants shines through in every song. This is as much a snapshot into his psyche as it is an album, and regardless of whether he adopts a single style, or continues his multi-faceted approach, future Libero Vox releases should be warmly anticipated.
Soul Conviction is available now from the Libero Vox website – http://www.liberovox.com.au/
