Lia Hide: “The Missing Fourth Guest” (2022) CD Review

The world has entered an undeniably dark place, with people falling under the sway of authoritarianism while the propaganda machines pump disinformation and hatred into their heads. Add a pandemic to the mix, one that seems to go on indefinitely, and now a brutal attack by Russia on the Ukrainian people, and it feels like we are at the edge of an abyss. Certain voices seem designed to reach us in the darkest of places, voices that feel at home in the bleak and gloomy landscapes, perhaps being born partly of the darker elements, and yet also having a light to help guide us through our own nightmares. Lia Hide is such a voice, as she demonstrates on her new release, The Missing Fourth Guest. The title of the album comes from the work of Plato, and certainly this is a time to turn philosophical, to take a fresh look at the reality around us and within us. The music here is an intriguing mix of pop, jazz, and industrial elements, with Lia’s voice being the main focus. Joining the singer and keyboardist on this release are Aki’Base on bass, George Rados on drums, Stelios Chatzikaleas on trumpet and Dennis Morfis on guitar.

The album opens with “Birthdays,” which begins like a wonderfully twisted lullaby. And aren’t we all still children, at least in the sense that there is so much we don’t really know? This song might be hitting me more strongly in part because I just had one of those birthdays that lead to taking stock in accomplishments or lack thereof. “This too shall pass,” she reminds us toward the end. Yes, and all too soon. “And then one day we die, my love,” Lia Hide sings at the beginning of “Uterus Will.” Who hasn’t been considering his or her own mortality during these uncertain times? And birthdays inevitably also lead to these thoughts. I love the rhythm of her vocal delivery, intoxicating and haunting, and then that gorgeous trumpet is somehow both soothing and equally haunting. But it is that final section that just destroys me. “Dementia, sweet darling/Why won’t you let go of me/My hands are old and shaking/I cannot find my key/Dementia, sweet husband/Why won’t you let go of me.” This is one of my personal favorite tracks. Then in “Niobe” there is a sense of urgency to the music. Again, we are facing our mortality, but here it is from a different angle, a tale of vanity, of passing beauty and of its seeming importance. The song’s title comes from mythology. Certain lines stand out, such as “The good people know she grew older/The good people noticed the cracks/On walls, on her skin and complexion” and “And made sure to hide them forever/Then she slit her beautiful throat.” The trumpet again plays an important part.

In “Row Row Row,” the music is like the children’s song having entered the darkest of realms. It begins with those lines we heard as children: “Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.” And soon it is in a more adult space, though she sings “And all I do is row, row, row, row the boat.” If life is but a dream, it might be one we wish to wake from. As are the previous tracks, this song is captivating, reflecting a harsh reality. “And now the demons are free.” That is how it seems, isn’t it? That’s followed by “Proposal,” that work on keys at the beginning like a fleeting reality, as we hear the notes immediately slipping into the past, into the shadows. “I hear your voice/Seems like someone’s there/Give me a choice/Lure me out today.” This track features some excellent and powerful vocal work. It leads straight into “Cloud,” which also has a sense of urgency about it, the way the music pushes its way forward. This is one of the album’s most exciting and intriguing tracks. Toward the end, there is a spoken word section. That track then in turn leads straight into “Dinner,” which shares some elements with “Proposal.” In this one Lia Hide sings, “Can we meet after dinner tonight/Can we focus on being all right/I get confused.” This track includes some interesting electronic sounds, as well as some wonderful work on trumpet. The album then concludes with “Wynnona.” It opens with these lines: “Life go strange/I grow weary/From Monday to Friday I sleep.” There is a captivating beauty to this song. It suddenly kicks in near the end, like rushing up the side of a skyscraper, toward a fire on the roof while lights explode all around.

CD Track List

1. Birthdays
2. Uterus Will
3. Niobe
4. Row Row Row
5. Proposal
6. Cloud
7. Dinner
8. Wynnona

The Missing Fourth Guest is scheduled to be released on April 1, 2022.