Review Summary: The hidden gem of Julien Baker’s discography
Until this week, I’d only heard Julien Baker’s three full-length albums. All three are quite good, although
Sprained Ankle is the only one I’d say reaches true excellence. In short, Baker’s always been one of those artists which I don’t quite “get”, with my assessment of her music falling far short of the accolades of her devoted fanbase. With that said, I was blown away by
Funeral Pyre/Distant Solar Systems, a pair of tunes released in 2017 as a single (or an EP, per Sputnik). Without hyperbole, both songs are among Baker’s finest handiwork, and they fit together like peanut butter and jelly.
Slowcore has often been offered as a reference point for Baker’s music, but most of the time it’s a more distant influence rather than a fundamental building block. For “Funeral Pyre” and “Distant Solar Systems”, though, that genre is far more prevalent than usual, with its compelling fusion of minimalistic restraint and emotional heaviness as the guiding principle of both songs. The arrangements are delicate, Baker’s vocals are more heart-wrenchingly vulnerable than ever, and the songs move at a measured pace, burning out steadily, without urgency but utterly enveloping. "Funeral Pyre” is sparse and bleak, the lonely strums of the guitar supplementing Baker’s plaintive singing, before a chiming outro brings about a sense of overwhelming catharsis. “Distant Solar Systems” doubles down, plodding along in the best way, as well as providing what is arguably the finest lyric sheet in Baker’s discography. There are certain songs which just demand your undivided attention while they’re playing, and both of these tracks fall into that potent category - the ethereal slowcore folk which Baker revels in here is simply too beautiful.
In a way, it’s sad that what I’d confidently call Baker’s finest work yet is not only such a concise release (less than ten minutes total), but also in the type of obscure format which most casual fans will pass by without a second glance. Word to the wise: delve into Baker’s three LPs, sure, but don’t forget to give
Funeral Pyre/Distant Solar Systems a spin (or ten). In fact, make that last item a priority.
