Review Summary: Two Piece Puzzle might be a slight step down from its predecessor for me but still does an excellent job of expanding her psychedelic scope
Having established herself as a solo artist in fantastic fashion with her 2019 self-titled debut, Rosalie Cunningham aims for even broader territory with Two Piece Puzzle. Her psychedelic pop style puts more focus on the psych part this time around with further prog elements rounding out the late sixties/early seventies aesthetic. The songwriting follows suit; there may not be a thirteen-minute epic suite, but there are more tracks to choose from with considerably loftier, elaborate structures than before.
This approach feeds into her ear for the extravagant quite nicely, as the extra instrumentation goes well with the already vibrant production and enthusiastic musicianship. Everything is laid out carefully, allowing each player to shine in a balanced fashion without coming off too rigidly. The vocals are upfront as ever though often standing on equal footing with the guitars and keyboards, the rhythm section is tight without getting too flashy, and the strings and woodwinds provide some supplementary color without getting too kitsch.
The fittingly titled “Start with the Corners” immediately demonstrates the more sprawling shift. It’s an appropriately trippy instrumental that is simultaneously self-contained with its weaving guitar/keyboard effects while hinting at the madness to come. From there, songs like “Donovan Ellington” and “Donny, Pt. Two” really lean in on that cabaret bent with a theatrical narrative while “Tristitia Amnesia” pairs Eastern drones and echoing vocal layers before transitioning to full on hippie rock. “Scared of the Dark” and “The Liner Notes” also drive home the varying dynamic turns quite nicely.
And while these more complex layouts make for a less immediately catchy experience, there’s still plenty of memorable songwriting afoot. Despite being the longest song on the album, “Duet” may be one of its most engaging thanks to a consistency bouncy Beatles-esque rhythm that is echoed in a fuzzier stomp and darker textures on the suggestively titled “Suck Push Bang Pow.” “Number 149” and “Fossil Song” are also noteworthy, having previously been released as a two-song single in 2021 but hearkening back to the debut’s spirit with their carefree hooks.
Overall, Two Piece Puzzle might be a slight step down from its near perfect predecessor for me but still does an excellent job of expanding her psychedelic scope. Pushing the kitchen sink approach even further than it already was makes the album trickier to digest but the presentation stays coherent. Everything has its purpose as the production sounds pristine, the arrangements are tight, and everybody appears to be having a good time. Further cementing Cunningham’s prowess as a leading queen in occult rock.
