A fabulous, bright, catchy and expanded, more live sound by the innovative New York multi-instrumentalist of experimental indie and synth-pop, moving on from the more bedroom feel of her first self-titled & The Charm LP, and here with lyrical themes of personal and relationship evolution. This one was co-produced by Nathan Jenkins (aka Bullion) with Rostam Batmanglij, who co-produced on two songs. The bright Eden has an infectious break-beat and echoes of dance-rock hybrids of the late 80s and early 90s. Jupiter and Mars is an ethereal stargazer with a similar effervescent feel with echoes of 80s pop. The title track is about her move from Berlin to Los Angeles in 2020. Happy Birthday is reflective life-examining synth pop that skips merrily at a pace after a slow, ambient opening and captures a dark form of delirium on the special day. “Too young to die / Too old to break through.” How Dare This Beer is a wittily eccentric poem of miserable jealousy and pleasure, and was written in loving tribute to The Magnetic Fields: “What right do the stars have / To sparkle up in the sky? / A hoedown of luminescent fireflies / Disco dancing in the heavеns / Sharing ecstasy and having / The time of thеir lives.” Emerson has a particular talent for mixing the musically bright and accessible with the wistful, downbeat and droll, finishing with the beautiful, shimmering Earth Alive: “Live your life, dragonfly / If I don't see you on this earth alive.” Quirky, catchy, and as ever distinctive and original. Out on Dead Oceans.
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