Mackenzie Scott’s sixth album as Torres finds the US singer-songwriter delivering 10 songs of solid indie-rock, developing her music towards broader soundscapes and, theoretically, larger venues. It is a cool, confident record of guile and precision, but it’s not terribly distinctive and perhaps lacks a little creative ambition.
Memorable tracks include the itchy space-rocker Life As We Don’t Know It and Collect. The former track carries a message of confusion and inertia in the modern world. “Each time I looked for God I drank a wave down every time,” she sings, likely referencing the orthodox Christianity of her adoptive parents.
It’s direct, textured songwriting and while the poetry lacks a little finesse, the lyrical message will ring true with audiences predisposed towards kicking against the traditions that raised them.
The latter track offers more distinctive pop-rock with fuzz guitars and strong, double tracked melodies. The central line “Did I hit a nerve?” has the satisfying stroppiness that also defined Plains’ Problem With It. It’s somewhere between sparkly Kurt Cobain grunge and PJ Harvey alt-indie. It’s intoxicating, actually.
Unfortunately, the rest of the album is pretty unremarkable by comparison. Happy Man’s Shoes is a plodding opener that threatens to groove but never really does, Artificial Limits is a treatise-dirge that seems fine until you notice how similar the drums are to Massive Attack’s Teardrop. From there the song looks rather mediocre in comparison.
There is also Songbird Forever, which closes the record as a shifting and ethereal piano study. It’s okay but on second listen feels like a ‘Kid A’-era Radiohead B-Side without the cutting edge production of Nigel Godrich.
‘What an Enormous Room’ is not a bad album and yet it is difficult to really commend it for anything in particular. Scott is clearly a writer of tremendous drive and talent, but the music on this album could do with being shaken up. The act of becoming a musician is a kind of rebellion in itself, and Lord knows it’s difficult to stay afloat, but by your sixth studio album, it might be time to up the stakes and be more adventurous.
Torres Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon February 12 2024 - MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room)
Tue February 13 2024 - BRISTOL Bristol Strange Brew
Wed February 14 2024 - LONDON Oslo
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