Jan Esbra Beautifully Navigates Turmoil and Loss
Jan Esbra translated the pain and loss of the end of an eight-year relationship into five graceful, eloquent, mesmerizing songs.
chamber pop
The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon Brings His Baroque Fashion to the Conversation
With the release of Rainy Sunday Afternoon, The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon discusses his music and deceptive personas – his and others’.
Lisa Harres Brings Poetic Vision to Debut Album
Lisa Harres’ debut strikes the right balance between skeletal piano-led ballads and baroque embellishments. It’s spellbinding with elusive beauty and staggering depth.
Peaceful Faces Explore Folk and Chamber Pop on Spectacular LP
Irresistible hooks and cunning arrangements abound on Peaceful Faces’ new record led by singer-songwriter Tree Palmedo.
Jenny Hval Blends Scent and Sound on Fascinating Album
Following up her novel while exploring the emotional pull of scents, Jenny Hval’s new glistening album has few peers. She discusses this in a new interview.
Beirut’s ‘A Study of Losses’ Is an Impressive Feat
Zach Condon’s (Beirut) commission to compose music for a Swedish circus works well as an album but serves better as an artistic statement.
Thin Lear Creates Sumptuous, Low-Key Chamber Folk
Thin Lear is a complete artist in that his influences are impeccable and apparent in his songs, yet he still crafts his own unique, brilliant voice.
Savoir Faire Creates a Stunning Blend of Existentialism and Retro Noir
Savoir Faire creates music for all ages and generations, made with skill and panache, eyes looking back with longing and forward with hope.
Father John Misty Beautifully Chronicles Our Messed-Up World
Father John Misty has come as close to perfecting his artistry as anyone can. Mahashmashana is a masterpiece of exceptional songwriting and performance.
Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ Still Amazes As a Conceptual Statement
On Funeral, Arcade Fire found catharsis in music while processing grief for the loss of loved ones. As a result, they shifted the course of indie rock.
Susanna Distills Life with ‘Meditations on Love’
Norway’s Susanna aims to distill the world and bring it down to a set of uncomfortable truths on this album. Love will tear us apart again and again.
Alex Izenberg Makes a Grand Statement with His Exiles
Alex Izenberg & the Exiles sees the artist take another step in his evolution as a songwriter, and his supporting cast helps him reach that next crest.