Psyche emerges from an opening string sequence which evokes a western movie soundtrack before simplifying to a naked piano behind a barrage of poetry and sailing under a vast star….”who are we in this life?” And then, yes, we know who you are as the song picks up from where Don’t You Know Who I Am? left off.

And thus, we are away on a journey to Iris, the album which arises from the ashes of last year’s lockdown commitment to one song a day. Reb Fountain is back, prolific, not knowing if a song a day will work but with love and care from her collaborators the songs take studio shape and it’s clear this muse was no illusion.

There are influences and influencers however, subtle, and a hint of a shift in direction, we can’t catch Reb but we can try and keep up as Iris unveils itself in sometimes short staccato sequences which stop as suddenly as they start, but always with a melody. This is not a hard album to like. Foxbright echoes Aldous before taking its own Donnie Darko path, and old themes appear in the headlights and burrows are sanctuaries.

But yes, a hint of a shift, away from the raw Americana of Lucinda Williams and towards the subtle folk/pop of Lana Del Rey. Retaining some Nick Cave darkness, Iris is Reb’s most immediately accessible work to date. An instant effect, as if the previous album was just a teaser, an Invisible Man. We’ve had a taste of Heart, with its ever so sultry video and further echoes of earlier work, but also progressive to pop. Reb is moving up towards mainstream, but not to it. We don’t want that; we’re ok with the threat and then the retreat. Beastie takes us back to the Reb of many voices, many tones, but there’s no hint of desperation, nor anguish nor plaintiveness nor uncertainty. Reb Fountain knows who she is, she’s moving on and along, more confident in her skin, no less nervous on the inside, but decidedly more assured on the out.

Count your lucky stars, Nick Cave, let’s have a helluva time with the Ark allusion and the Fisherman walking on water. No holes in her feet. From a biblical to a cruel Titanic sea, Swim to the Star, about the ill-fated voyage from Southampton, “goin down, down, down”.

Lacuna is a missing part, in this case the song which comes closest to rocking out, or at least the promise of a band cut loose live. “What a way to start, kisses in the dark”

Iris is the eye’s diaphragm, letting in light, and Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and messenger for the gods. Iris the title track starts like an old time Hollywood movie, but segues into song about love, not surprisingly, given the pedigree of the title, and of the legendary Iris who links the gods to humanity. All the colours. All the shades. All the nuances. All the frailty of the human condition.

And so we have Reb Fountain’s new album, Iris, which closes with the most beautiful Intermission. For me the standout track. “This is how we make it out alive”. And a fitting smorgasbord of themes and influences, as if all that has gone before has led to this, it’s only intermission, we’ve only just begun. Reb Fountain has only just begun. “Funny how the time flies”. This is how we make it. Refraction of light. Rainbow. Fountain of Reb.

Iris is out today on Flying Nun Records.

• 1
  Anxiety Club
• 2
  Devilskin
• 3
  Coridian
• 4
  Take Hold
• 5
  Skinny Hobos
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Head Like A Hole
• 8
  Shihad
• 9
  Villainy
• 10
  Like A Storm

• 
  Muroki @ Galatos, Auckland - 19/04/2024
• 
  Dougfest Junior @ Big Fan, Auckland - 20/04/2024
• 
  When The Cats Away @ Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington - 21/04/2024
• 
  Luke Buda @ Whammy Bar, Auckland - 20/04/2024

• 1
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 2
  BEAUTIFUL THINGS
  Benson Boone
• 3
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 4
  I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
  Artemas
• 5
  SATURN
  SZA
• 6
  STICK SEASON
  Noah Kahan
• 7
  END OF BEGINNING
  Djo
• 8
  LIKE THAT
  Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
• 9
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 10
  WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
  Ariana Grande

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