Bad Boy Bill ft. Alyssa Palmer, "If I Tell You," The Album (Nettwerk)

[We're having some problems with the audio plugin/hosting at the moment. Sorry for the inconvenience. -Ed.] ]Portland vocalist/songwriter Alyssa Palmer's dreamy vocals have floated atop the soundscapes of local electronica group Phutureprimitive and also rocketed her first single, “Falling Anthem,” to #4 on the Billboard dance charts last summer. Now, after a year of songwriting, she's performing fresh songs Saturday night at Urban Studio, including the slick and sophisticated “If I Could Tell You,” a track from DJ Bad Boy Bill's 2009 release, The Album.

The song shows Palmer in a more poppy vein than before, less floaty and more throaty, but her delivery is still peppered with well-timed falsetto breaks and slightly exotic enunciation, touches that linger from her techno past. It's an effective melange—think Kelly Clarkson channeling Björk—with judicious robot-like vocal effects, groovy synth licks, and lushly layered percussion and acoustic guitar. In the second verse Palmer plays with the lyrics' rhythm, syncopating the words with a lilting, improvisational insouciance that works well with the song's confessional tone.

[audio:ifitellyou.mp3]

Palmer plays Saturday, June 19 at Urban Studio (206 NW 10th Ave.) at 9 pm.

Links:
Alyssa PalmerBook