Cinema
Suah Sounds, 2020
8/10
On this sophomore album, the multi-instrumentalist Skylar Gudasz returns with her inimitable vocals and personal wordplay as she creates a unique brand of Americana via her thoughtful song craft.
“Femme Fatale” starts the listen soft and soulful, where atmosphere is key as piano helps illuminate the introspective folk setting with raw lyrics, and “Actress” follows with moments of louder strumming amid the more pop oriented cautiousness.
Elsewhere, the breathy “Rider” moves with a sparse quality of timeless beauty that flirts with country, while the acoustic guitar fueled “Animal” is pure folky-pop genius. “Go Away” then recruits an upbeat approach with bouncy keys and crisp percussion in the playful album highlight.
Closer to the end, “Have We Met, Sir” flows with piano balladry and expressive, eloquent singing, and “Waitress” finishes out the listen with just a gentle guitar accompanying Gudasz’s incredible pipes on the emotive exit.
Certainly a darker effort than her previous work, Gudasz undoubtedly draws comparisons to Joni Mitchell with her stirring vocals, and her mood often points toward Nick Drake as the mesmerizing, rich intimacy will certainly not keep the songstress in obscurity for much longer.
Travels well with: Daughter Of Swords- Dawnbreaker; Mary Bragg- Violets As Camouflage