Review Summary: It dreams, it pops, it shoe shops.
Let’s get straight into the track-by-track, but not cover all the tracks; nobody likes that, some Sputnikers say. Life is Coming Home features endless effects on some unknown sounds to create creepy ambient music in the background. The track Contain evolves until it bubbles over with a deep toned, rather difficult to listen to synthesizer. I’m Not There has a heavily effect-dripping guitar taking up the entire space. Variation is clearly present in this dream pop album, and some bits may take repeat listens to understand for outsiders. Aside from that dark synth in Contain, I quite enjoyed the nuance in tracks as “weird” as they got. Maybe I’m just weird, actually, there’s no maybe about it. All this to say that the tracks are quite interesting, though it’s not a revelation at this point. Expect to be razzle dazzled, maybe even zazzled.
The album is absurdly beautiful at times, with harmonization travelling to the farthest reaches of deep space. The effects on her voice are perfect for her tone, and soothing. Dream pop within is indeed sleepy, with an atmosphere as immersive as Washed Out or similar dream pop bands — if you like those you’ll like this. Whether there’s important lyrics or not is hard to tell sometimes, because the soundscape can crush over the vocalist like a waterfall shower. There’s deep shades to these flower petals, indeed. Unnecessary, oddball analogies aside, I enjoyed the relaxing soundscape, though sometimes I just fell asleep.
It’s easy to dub this an unremarkable album considering how many similar albums I’ve heard. Still, this one feels special for a number of reasons. The way the vocals dive into an atmospheric sea brings more shades of colour than a “make love, not war” graffitied van, which I mention because the music can get a bit trippy. Nothing about what I just said is unique. Oh well, it sounds gorgeous and the deep cuts are, well, quite deep like a sea diver exploring an underwater cave. Turns out I’m not done with the analogies, because the album makes me feel something, it transported me away to… somewhere, somewhere lovely. Maybe for you it will too, or maybe the slower tracks will disengage you. Fret not, there’s quite a few bumpier tracks. Exciting right? In the words of Mario, less-a-go!
