With themes that range from mystical to grounded, Crystal Rose’ debut album explores what it means to feel. She sings with a raw and unfiltered soul style, but doesn’t shy away from using heavy layering and electronics to give her sound an unsettling and eerie air. Her goal was to make a project that traversed the field between something that was unfiltered and real to something fantastic and beautiful. And in this collection of songs written over the past few years, she manages to encapsulate a host of emotions, ideas, and sounds that are as wide ranging as they are impactful.
The entire project was recorded in the comfort of Rose’s Brooklyn home. “It was the first time I felt comfortable enough to start recording at home, and confident in my feeling that these songs hold experiences and images that others may relate and hold on close to.” With a little help from her friends, she’s collaborated to create an art pop album that’s bound to blow you away. Crystal’s ethereal falsetto is an absolute benchmark, a focal point for the album to steer itself around.
From the faint and solemn trickling omen that is ‘Mud Wood Stone’, to the more folksy and poppy tunes like ‘Cocoon’ or ‘Until This is Over’, Rose’s vocal harmonies remain the central focus of the project. The harmonisation and vocal layering give the project an almost psychedelic air. But the instrumentation, particularly the usage of the bass, adds so much soul to an otherwise pop and folk dominant soundscape.
The album hits its zenith towards the end, particularly on the penultimate track ‘The Willows’. The solemn and faint subtlety on that piece, coupled with its inherent minimalism add a certain flair to it that makes it all the more endearing.
For fans of pop music with a bit of spark, a little edge, and a knack for innovation, Crystal Rose is an ideal listen. Her haunting and fantastical vocal harmonisations are bound to leave you fascinated and enthralled.
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