Twilight Of The Empire
Crystal Baby, 2022
9/10
Listen to Twilight Of The Empire
The brainchild of the Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter Olivia Street, as King Of Foxes she returns with a 3rd album that brings pop, rock and indie ideas into a very well crafted 10 songs.
“Doomed To Repeat” starts the listen with no lack of melody, as Street’s bright vocals guide the firm keys and fluid guitar playing, and “Only Here On Loan” follows with a mix of indie-pop meets Spaghetti-western in the charming, retro flavored climate that’s quite fun.
In the middle, the intimate “Dark Horse” builds into a soaring, piano-fueled rocker, while “Good Man” is a cautious display of poetic singing and segues into a swirling display of spirited indie-rock.
Further on, the darker nods of “Talk About Love” comes with a hint of punk influence, as Street’s expressive singing makes for a gripping rock formula, and “Walls” exits the listen with both dream-pop and alt-rock ideas present and appreciated in the gritty yet polished finish.
It’s not hard to think of Liz Phair, Jeen or Kate Bush when listening to Twilight Of The Empire, and it’s no surprise that the album went to #1 on the CKUA Radio charts, cause Street’s strategic use of shoegaze, punk and alt-rock makes for a very memorable and timeless listen.
Travels well with: Mariel Buckley- Driving In The Dark; Skye Wallace- Skye Wallace