Orchids
Adhyâropa, 2025
9/10
The multi-instrumentalists Eli Greenhoe and Hans Bilger bring their skills in the area of classical sounds and new music to these often delicate and avant-garde ideas.
The mesmerizing “Nail” opens with Greenhoe handling lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, rubber bridge piccolo bass and Elektron Digitone alongside Ledah Finck’s well timed violin with much grace, and “So Long Lover” follows with Bilger’s lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric and upright bass and sampling that radiates tremendous intimacy.
“Bird And Branch” and “Car Arrives” occupy the middle spots. The former recruits Bergamot Quartet and Oriel Quartett’s intricate strings alongside Griffin Brown’s sparse drums, while the latter is a more animated burst of rock fueled gestures via the acoustic and electric guitars that builds into a busy and soaring album highlight.
Inching towards the end, “Same Dream” welcomes Miles Walter’s Wurlitzer and Elias Peter Brown’s modular synth to the many noisemakers of the rich and cultured climate, and “Maria” exits with a soft folk song, where Paul Santner’s guitar joins the duo for the pretty finish.
A well thought out record where each song retains its own identity, you’ll hear traces of Elliott Smith, orchestral influences, pop nods and chamber bouts that you can’t not admire.
Travels well with: Scroggins + Rose- Speranza; High Horse- High Horse