Review Summary: exhale.
"A breath of fresh air". These words infrequently escape the mouths of the net critic, and with good reason. There is nothing new under the sun. There are simply those who go about plagiarism with a higher degree of secrecy than others. Daniela Andrade's
Shore isn't a breath of fresh air. Rather, it is the morning exhalation of someone dear. It feels comfortable, familiar even. Regardless of the musty tang and dripping lips, the inhale and exhale of the other party serves as a gentle reminder that there is some good in the world, somewhere. This dreamy, electro-pop EP plays out like a post-modern lullaby, with minimalist instrumentation and layers of reverb acting as slurred diction. Andrade's silky smooth vocals are closer to melodic whispering than singing. Even at dynamic peaks, the coatings of harmonies never show any sign of strain.
A lullaby such as this doesn't require anything more than to be soft. In this regard, it most definitely succeeds. Complexity is almost completely removed from the EP's construction, with artistic creativity being reserved purely for melodic progressions. Even these are typically faded re-hashes of current trends. Maybe, this is also where
Shore fails. Impact never hits. The dream lies undisturbed, as crescendos lead to more crescendos, or fade into nothingness. While such expectations might seem redundant, Andrade rides this EP like an endless wave; the crash can be seen from a mile away, but it never arrives. Part of the marvel, however, comes simply in the fact that this wave is gorgeous. It is warm, slow, and restrained.
Shore doesn't try to differentiate because it understands its place. If comfort is the only purpose this lullaby should serve, its purpose has been fulfilled.
