Wildflower
Are And Be, 2024
8/10
The New Orleans artist Zoe Boekbinder returns with 11 indie-folk songs that often touch on imporant but difficult topics.
“Cover Up The Moon” opens the listen with Boekbinder’s distinct vocals alongside Ryan Madora’s cozy bass and Megan McCormick’s dreamy pedal steel making for much beauty, and “Hold My Hand” follows with Megan Coleman’s agile drumming complementing the careful, rhythmic climate.
Moving towards the middle, “Scared To Mess Up” is particularly intimate, where Boekbinder’s expressive pipes draw us in, while “I Tried To Be Good” uses soothing vocal harmonies amid cozy guitar.
Deeper still, the melodic and fuller “Where Time Is Free” is the album’s best thanks to the breezy mood and strong attention to detail, and “Oh Sophia” exits with a timeless, poetic spirit that’s heartfelt.
A child of scientists who was around music from a young age, Boekbinder was involved in the sibling band Vermillion Lies from 2005-2009, and this solo work extends on that organic, sincere and thoughtful song craft and will always be relevant.
Travels well with: Alan Doyle- Welcome Home; Taylor Rae- Mad Twenties