A beautifully delicate, melodious, thoughtful and poetic indie-folk-pop debut, following EPs, by the London singer-songwriter, formerly of shoe-gaze band Big Deal, here on themes of grief and growth, purging, personal rebuilding and creative detangling. Produced by Mike Lindsay from Tunng, who has variously worked with Anna B Savage, Laura Marling, Dana Gavanski among others, it’s a finely crafted sound, with soft bass, various woodwind instruments, keyboards and other woven sonic textures and intricacies, mostly all delivered at a gentle walking pace, with some echoes of the enormously influential Cate Le Bon. It’s album that moves with grace and apparently ease, each element falling perfectly in place. Highlights include the flute-filled opener Anywhere Else, the perkier paced How Can I, the slower, heartbreak-themed but gently defiant title track (“Should I follow you into the dark? / Crack me open, tear my world apart / Though it breaks my heart / To be so far / I move on with the year … Tell your kids there's nothing they can do/ When you're on that junk there is no getting through / Though it breaks my heart / To be so far.” Equally quiet, yet potent, are Damned If You Do (“What a wicked game / To play is to lose”), another vividly melancholy, family rift song - Feet On The Sand (“He went home to the South island / To get himself straight / But the Ōtākaro River couldn't wash it away/ Brought back gifts for all the children / Greenstones on strings / And a soft white lamb just for me / But did it do a thing?”), and finally, the the catchy guitar indie-pop with bells and recorders, If I Could Reach You (“but you're never there”). A mature and very accomplished LP, filled with subtly, sadness and great songwriting. Out on Moshi Moshi Records.
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