Nicole Andrews - Album Review: A Stranger
In 2015 I reviewed Nicole Andrews’ album In The Shallows and
raved about her rawness and connection with her music.
Needless to say, her second album A Stranger has done it
again. Her creativity and confidence to bring her vulnerability to her music is
inspiring and captivating to listen to. She has truly stepped into her own with
this album and has created a collection of songs that are the perfect blend of
electronic beats, unnerving synths and her enchanting rich warm voice.
I admire her way of letting the songs speak for themselves,
with songs 008 and 004 being purely instrumental. 008 was one of the
stand out tracks on this album for me, whisking me off to some timeless zone of
tranquillity and emotion, one that when listened to can easily take the
listener to a dreamlike serene state.
Other stand outs for me on the album are Beg for More and Bass
Player. Her confidence in bringing emotions that can seem ‘dark’ and ‘gloomy’
is something I applaud and see instead as ‘courageous’ and ‘bold’. To create
music that is so descriptive in emotion she has very much put her heart and
soul on the line. It makes the Top 40 songs about love seem like something to
be laughed at.
A fantastic second album, this one is fearless. It
definitely feels like she is saying with her music ‘I am here, this is me and
this is what I do’. It’s bold, it’s brave and you should definitely consider
giving it a listen.
Review written by Ria Loveder
About Nicole Andrews
Her debut album, In the Shallows, focused on piano driven alternative, and went on to receive critical acclaim within New Zealand and overseas.
Her sophomore album, A Stranger, has diversified from the previous ‘piano songs’ moniker, instead drawing on electronic influences such as Bjork, Goldfrapp and Arca. Paired with Rhombus’ Thomas Voyce as producer, the compositions centre around the Prophet 6 synthesizer and the raw confessional lyrical stylings Nicole is known for. The result is a gritty and dark album that reveals a new side of this singer-songwriter.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Nicole Andrews
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