LP’s charisma comes from her total authenticity. But underneath that tough exterior this song suggests that Laura Pergolizzi has a rather tender heart. I find the lyrics devastating – they cut you like the knife of the title. Then there is her delivery – by turns, aggressive and aching, cynical and sensitive.
I remember discovering LP on ‘Later… with Jools Holland’. At the time, still the best music platform for artists of real talent. She sang ‘Lost on You’ and stole the show, the buzz around the song and her performance giving her sudden fame after years of writing for other, more famous but far less talented stars.
But, for me, it is this lesser known song ‘Switchblade’ (a type of knife) that really leaves a mark.
