Review Summary: Dream pop - inspired.
Wisteria Lodge is a dream pop EP with a bluesy singer. The distant organ and hazey, quiet, synth-wave pads make relaxing atmospherics, and a great background for the soulful singer to infuse her cigar smoked, club singer energy into. It feels like music from a different era, and no doubt would sound delicious on tape, or especially vinyls. The endlessly repeated choruses get a little tiring, but the effort to slow the listener down to the pace of the music succeeds in spades. This self titled EP release is as relaxing as I like my dream pop to be.
The range of influences here is fun. It may shoegaze, but the drums have a potent bass punch. In other surprises, a guitar line in Curtains sounds straight from the 90s. Falling Into Sin also has a detectable gothic sound. Nuance may not be entirely obvious due to samey songwriting, but it radiates quietly. It is a unique release, after all, but the highlight here is the singing.
Karen Dooley is classically trained and it shows a difference like a newly waxed car. In the hands of another singer the tunes may have seemed a tad basic, but Karen brings an almost otherworldly presence to the role. What I mean is this: the numbing gel of her notes is relaxing to the point of feeling like space drifting. Yet, her singing is powerful, propelling this EP into repeated listens for me. A blissful time awaits you if you give a chance to this little release.
