Review Summary: Take a bite of the apple
Creativity abounds on Hemlocke Springs’ debut studio album,
The Apple Tree Under The Sea. It builds on her fantastic EP from 2023, making tweaks to the formula but keeping her exuberant personality at the forefront. Some might perceive it as theatre kid energy, but there is no “pick me” energy or desperation. Album highlight “Sense (Is)” bursts with such assured confidence despite its wild combination of unhinged, growled vocals and a catchy hook ready for an 80’s nightclub. It’s like if Björk made
Future Nostalgia.
A lot of people are turned off by her “annoying voice” and to that (other than “grow up”), I say… that’s kinda the point? Like Kate Bush and Elizabeth Fraser before her, a singular and eccentric singing voice only serves to solidify her sound and point of view as truly unique. Her voice is a weapon that she deploys masterfully – on “Head, Shoulders, Knees And Ankles” she transitions from aggressive staccato chirping in the first half, to smooth melismas in the final minute. Both techniques are equally impressive.
“w-w-w-w-w” is the centrepiece of the album and my first SOTY candidate of 2026. It tells the grim story of a child bride, but the propulsive, danceable instrumental offers a more empowering take on this harrowing reality, punctuated by the deadly lyric “I would rather kill myself than look him in the eyes and say / I want your love”. In one breath, she is both vulnerable and venomous as she advocates for those without voices. And as a pop song, it’s expertly constructed, with a minute-long buildup flowing into eerie verses before exploding into a cathartic chorus.
OK I lied, the album is so good it has a second centrepiece – “Be The Girl!” is a fantastic closer. When that “I Feel Love” synth hits and the pre-chorus vocals shift higher and higher in pitch, it’s hold-your-breath magic… and then as you exhale, it erupts into her grooviest bassline on an album full of them. Spoiler alert, there’s even a key change – it’s blissful. And a fade out – bring back fade outs! It’s a huge track, and would be career-defining for most artists, so it’s all the more amazing to come from an artist less than 5 years into hers. It’s truly pop music gold, and the perfect send off to an incredibly creative and fun debut record. Please check this one out.
