I realize that I'm not the intended audience for Fenne Lily. The musician's considerable talents seem wasted on me. Or maybe I just don't have the patience anymore for things that are this contemplative, inward-looking, and moody? Breach, the British artist's new release, is quite compelling and, if you have a little bit of time, it's the sort of thing that will wash over you and nudge your soul at times.
Breach is one of the most low-key records I've heard lately, and yet it momentarily surges in unexpected ways. "Solipsism", for example, is catchy and direct, while "Alapathy" skips along atop a spry guitar-figure that places this firmly in the realm of the best indie of 2020. Elsewhere, "I Used to Hate My Body But Now I Just Hate You" works wonderfully, despite a title that almost damns it to be too serious. The cut finds Fenne Lily's warm, unhurried vocals carry as much force and anger as any punk song, and the overall effect here is an impressive one. Breach has a lot of stuff on it that's what I'd call new folk, but there are also plenty of songs that have interesting touches about them, whether in the choice of instrumentation or production, that place this in the same company as recent records from Weyes Blood or Angel Olsen, nearly.
Breach is out on Friday via Dead Oceans.
More details on Fenne Lily via the official Facebook page.
[Photo: Nicole Loucaides]