Melinda Bronstein - In/Reverse

Outta nowhere brilliance on this debut solo outing from Melinda Bronstein, a former performer in a few long gone indie acts and some notable current acts (Leaf Library and Sea Glass). Little of that history had quite prepared us for this incredibly 2021-sounding collection that sits in that essentially genre-less zone somewhere between the worlds of modern composition, ambient pop, experimental electronics and drone. Utilising an array of vocal loops and drones, and building each song around semi-dichotomous titles, there's an obvious hypnotic quality to In Reverse, a series of dream-state mantras ushering you to sleep or to some other unconscious action. Process-wise, there's a big debt to Laurie Anderson (there are many, many worse places to start), though there's much shared ground with a whole host of great contemporaries - Tara Clerkin Trio, R. Elizabeth, Laila Sakini, Able Noise, Lucy Duncombe... Fans of any or all would do very well to investigate immediately. A very impressive opening shot.