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Rachel Goswell, "Waves Are Universal"
4AD
Fans of Slowdive and Mojave 3 can rejoice: this debut proves that theloveliest member of both bands indeed has the talent to carry a projectall her own. Not that this is a complete surprise, as anyone involvedin the aforementioned groups has to have some serious chops, plus an EPreleased a couple months ago let the cat out of the bag already. Thefact that Goswell can carry a whole album ostensibly on her own isnews, though, and it bodes well for the chanteuse's future works bothin bands and on her own. The finer moments of English folk and Americancountry are paired together with field recordings and a taste ofrhetoric to make these songs to live, and the voice of a fallen angelto command them to do her bidding. Goswell knows her stuff, letting inthe right amount of every ingredient and then taking the song towonderful heights. She also lets them all breathe just enough, nottaking the idea to an extreme or longer than it needs to go. These areconcise and fully-realized tales, perfect in their time and place.Shifting styles in the songs also show a willingness to explore newterritory, whether accordion or pipes and whistles, and though some ofthem don't add much to the proceedings it's nice to hear the attempt atloftier heights. There are more than enough moments where those heightsare attained, from the gorgeous double-tracked vocals to the infectiousmelodies, to heartfelt lyrics about missing the one you've discoveredwho makes life worth living ("No Substitute," easily one of the album'sbest tracks). Not every song is a gem, but there's more than half agreat album to be heard, and that's impressive for a solo debut. Thesongwriter within is finding the right elements and the perfectmixture. With the initial awkwardness past her, Goswell now has theability to improve on the concept and find all the right stops.
Fans of Slowdive and Mojave 3 can rejoice: this debut proves that theloveliest member of both bands indeed has the talent to carry a projectall her own. Not that this is a complete surprise, as anyone involvedin the aforementioned groups has to have some serious chops, plus an EPreleased a couple months ago let the cat out of the bag already. Thefact that Goswell can carry a whole album ostensibly on her own isnews, though, and it bodes well for the chanteuse's future works bothin bands and on her own. The finer moments of English folk and Americancountry are paired together with field recordings and a taste ofrhetoric to make these songs to live, and the voice of a fallen angelto command them to do her bidding. Goswell knows her stuff, letting inthe right amount of every ingredient and then taking the song towonderful heights. She also lets them all breathe just enough, nottaking the idea to an extreme or longer than it needs to go. These areconcise and fully-realized tales, perfect in their time and place.Shifting styles in the songs also show a willingness to explore newterritory, whether accordion or pipes and whistles, and though some ofthem don't add much to the proceedings it's nice to hear the attempt atloftier heights. There are more than enough moments where those heightsare attained, from the gorgeous double-tracked vocals to the infectiousmelodies, to heartfelt lyrics about missing the one you've discoveredwho makes life worth living ("No Substitute," easily one of the album'sbest tracks). Not every song is a gem, but there's more than half agreat album to be heard, and that's impressive for a solo debut. Thesongwriter within is finding the right elements and the perfectmixture. With the initial awkwardness past her, Goswell now has theability to improve on the concept and find all the right stops.
