Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong review

This debut album on Ninja Tune from South London vocalist Andrea Triana is perhaps the most explicit example of the good work done by Red Bull Music Academy. It was her appearance at the 2006 event in Australia which led to her collaboration with Brainfeeder don Flying Lotus on his career making track “Tea Leaf Dancers” which impressed the likes of professional hushed tones speaker Gilles Peterson (the track appeared on a Brownswood compilation), Annie Mac and the Ninja Tune family. Triana subsequently appeared on albums from label mainstays Mr. Scruff and Bonobo. It’s Simon Green from the latter who produces the bulk of Lost Where I Belong.

After the soft orchestral tug of album opener “Draw the Stars” Triana finds her range on the title track which is complemented perfectly by the organic boombap and sweeping strings. It’s track such as this, the horn filled “Up In Fire” and “Far Closer” which make the most immediate impression, with the production on the latter approaching a Motown strut when Triana hits the chorus. Amidst a sea of somewhat average singer songwriter albums, Lost Where I Belong is distinguished by the sheer soul and range of Triana’s vocals which are allowed to shine throughout by the understated production.

Tony Poland