Holly Miranda - The Magician's Secret Library (Review)
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Written by Matt Hamm
Riding high on the wave of star producers that carry both musical weight and media interest, comes the debut album for US singer/songwriter Holly Miranda. Teaming up with TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, the Detroit based musician and guitarist of The Jealous Girlfriends, is fresh off the solo boat with a suitcase full of otherworldly intrigue and familiarity.
Her first outing, The Magician’s Private Library is an interesting mix of tender, ethereal vocal ability and brass-bound accompaniment, that wraps the album in a slightly trippy, almost unearthly casing that seals the singer’s own stamp on the sound. Where The Jealous Girlfriends leant on throaty guitars and indie-rock edge, Holly Miranda walks an all-together different line that resembles The Guillemots more than that of her former band. Opening track Forest Green Oh Forest Green bounces along with twee-delight and joyful trumpets that practically jump from Fyfe Dangerfield’s back catalogue.
At times the album is a spacey, brassy affair whisked together in a Dark Side of the Moon froth that rises to float above the clouds. Joints sways along, taking direction from the subtle guitar chords and Holly Miranda’s choral voice, practically paying homage to Pink Floyd’s Us and Them in one fail swoop. Where Sweet Dreams journeys into Holly Miranda’s happy place, backed by sun-kissed beats; Everytime I Go To Sleep differs, lullaby like at first glance that slowly scratches away to unveil oxymoronic lyrics to the song’s sentiment in sound. Singing “Everytime I go to sleep, I kick, I scream and dream a little bit, violently wake up to what’s real and really bullshit”, something is uncovered below the surface dabbled in intrigue and significance.
Adding more strings to her bow, the brilliant Waves ties her entirely engrossing purr to a bed of soft chords and a cascading wall of sound, wrapping your ears in a warm duvet of brilliance. Whereas No One But Us pounds with more ferocity, PJ Harvey in style with biting whispered verses and heavier guitars that frown upon a failing relationship with patronising tone.
It’s these sentiment heavy words that will see Holly Miranda wander shoeless in the footsteps of Laura Veirs, Cat Power and Laura Marling before her, finding something more beneath the music, that lets the listener into her world with a warm embrace. Dave Sitek may have slightly lent too much accompanying music to Miranda’s debut, where a stripped soul and tender voice could’ve said more; but make no mistake, there is much more to come from the young lady and her self-taught trumpeting.
Stereoboard Rating: 3.5/5.
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