The only voice you will hear on this volume of Ball of Wax is Lisa King’s breathy, tossed-off “all right,” leading her acoustic guitar into the gentle groove she’s established on hand drums to ease us into the landscape of “Lunaria.” Yes, this volume is instrumental, and yes, that generally means no voices, but if Lisa King wants to lead us into this lush musical world with a little verbal affirmation, who am I to say no?
“Lunaria” – a piece of music as charming and lovely as its namesake flower – would do just fine as background music in pretty much any setting, but its greatness really shines through when you listen closely, ideally on headphones. That “all right” really pops out, for instance, but I also love the way the verses and choruses flow into and contrast with each other, the way the instruments play together and leave room for each other, and then, maybe my favorite part: At the very end of the song, with mere seconds to go, we hear a new voice, a pensive organ winding up a new melody, but the fade-out has already begun, and we’re left to imagine where this song might have gone, what musical delights that sweet, lonely organ might have hinted at.