The gritty and rustic vocal stylings of France’s Robert Lauri are exemplified by a classic throwback to Euro-Country pop and rock. The latest single, “Oh No”, sung in English, showcases Robert’s musicianship in an appropriate and engaging manner.
The opening of the song wastes no time with a wailing guitar line backed by drum-kit. The result is a bluesy, reverberating guitar piece with some country leanings. Robert’s gritty voice adds another layer of music, while the guitar wavers between a light and full sound. Bell tolls interrupt the twanging guitar sounds with some swishy percussion noises. Robert’s vocal delivery possesses German and Russian characteristics, though the lyrics are wholly English. The country-esque and alternative folk-rock sound resembles the music of America’s Douglas September.
The latter half of the song features more wailing guitar, bell tolls, swishy percussion, and languid vocals that contain a relatively low melodic range, but the music suits the voice perfectly. Robert’s vocals are an exact parallel between Douglas September and Ersatzmusika. The rhythm guitars are accompanied by some keyboard noises with a cascading sound resembling wind. The end of the song pulls everything together with drum-kit cymbals and a guitar outro rounding out the song. Robert’s few repeating lines at the end of the song stops abruptly without a fading outro.
Robert Lauri’s “Oh No” is a unique musical composition that draws upon Euro and Country pop and rock with a dose of alternative folk thrown in for good measure. Importantly, the song possesses a somewhat brooding musical melody without much melodic variation or range. The music contains alternative leanings from German and Russian sources. Whether or not the geographic references are purposeful; they are fitting. All in all, the guitars and percussion are well-balanced with the vocals with no ill effects. Anyone with a passion for rock and pop music containing French, German, or Russian musical arrangements should give Robert Lauri a listen.
Review by Matthew Forss
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
