Christabel is an upcoming musician from Edinburgh, UK. Released on the 27th of August, her debut album 'A Dream Away' was written and recorded in her bedroom studio producing an intimate setting that displays introspective lyricism masked in dreamy, shoegaze soundscapes.
'A Dream Away' lulls the listener into this ten-track LP, with sampled clips and spacey synth instrumentation evoking a blurred state of reality with the sudden change in tempo bridging the sections together. In terms of instrumentation, the track draws similarities to Foals' 'Spanish Sahara' but with a richer reverbed soundscape that leads into 'Cliff'. 'Cliff' explores a varied sound palette; the warped chordal progression alongside the light timbre produces an almost sensual atmosphere emphasised by the vocal harmonies that envelop the listener in warm tones. 'Never Again' pairs nicely with 'Cliff' and explores a similar theme with the welcome addition of a saxophone line and whispery vocals making an intimate, introspective song. This track is intriguing with a chorus that could easily feature as part of a soundtrack for the James Bond franchise with its air of mystery and moments of tension.
'Sunny Delight' moves away from the dark instrumental, with the warped guitar and echoing vocals providing momentum as the listener reaches the halfway mark of this album. The second half of this album moves between shoegaze, dreampop and psychedelic instrumentation; 'Always There' features spoken lyrics that read like a stream of consciousness. It also demonstrates Christabel's confidence as a singer who is not afraid of being herself when translating her thoughts to lyric, a technique that is hard to master as an artist.
'I Walked a Lie' is the catchiest song on the album; the melodic structure is intriguing and refreshing. The accompanying saxophone once again exudes an air of mystery whilst not diverting attention away from the vocals. There is constant tension between the backing instrumental and vocal line that invites the listener to pay close attention to the lyrics. 'I Walked a Lie' tells the story of an individual deep in thought, pondering in a state of reflection. 'Matches' similarly uses samples that are interwoven throughout the production evoking nostalgic melodies that thematically complements the album. A highlight from the LP is 'Do You Like Me?' featuring Jacoby, a collaboration that is engaging, adding dimension with its conversational lyricism. Jacoby beautifully contrasts Christabel's vocals with the additional harmonies adding depth and colour to the track. As the album comes to an end, 'Pretty in Lace' and 'Lucidity' gradually guide the listener from a dream-like state, concluding this ten-track LP. Christabel's album presents itself like a journey exploring a range of themes with rich emotional depth and lyrics that explore failed relationships and introspective patterns of thought. This album truly felt like a dream and is a body of work that proudly displays Christabel's sound and direction as a writer.
Favourite tracks from the album: 'Never Again', 'I Walked a Lie' and 'Do You Like Me?' (ft Jacoby)
You can hear Christabel's album 'A Dream Away' in the links above or on my Spotify Reviews Playlist (link in bio).
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