It’s an ethereal space Black Brunswicker is able to achieve. Etta Helfrich was raised in Indiana and is now based in Manchester. Perhaps knowing of these worlds has influenced her compositions and way she perceives music so deeply. Each set of compositions explores a different postcard of memory – not just the still image we see but the narrative behind it. The latest album takes you to swim in surreal places. This is called Dreams of a Sunflower River.
Incredible ambient songwriting
The first track of the album is called It’s a Long Way from Home. To take you to this place beyond reality, Black Brunswicker architects the dream through melody. There is a cool, composed breeze that brings the whole scenery colour. Notes float in between these gusts, implying the distance through some well-placed notes that sustain themselves. Like Marconi Union, the emphasis lies on the space between notes, rather than the choice of notes themselves. When you reach A Raga Called John, the mastering on the album really takes effect. The stage depth for the performance is great, layered with the ambient drones and the crisp guitar notes that cut through.
A bit about the album – this was recorded in 2019. I would imagine this to be a cocoon of clarity, especially with what happened during the pandemic. This is the kind of escapism I would choose to meditate on – to find some balance and meaning through what is happening. Black Brunswicker has made sure she creates the kind of depth you experienced from her earlier albums. Drones and guitar sounds stand out, and the absence of percussion morphs time. A song like I’ve Got Something to Share comes in. This is where the drones add colour to the canvas. The continuous flow between the songs makes it seem like a seamless thread.
A picturesque aesthetic
Drowned in Sunlight really captures the album art in the best way. From the mountain range to the sunflowers facing up, it is a hopeful and joy-inducing number. The composition is gentle, and the notes flow into each other in an ethereal sense. I was reminded of thoughtful moments from the movie Project Hail Mary as well, where a lot of unspoken emotions were touched by the music. From the thoughts of When My Memory Begins to Fade, we move to Cowboys in a Strange Land. The notes are threaded closer together, making you pay closer attention to the lead.
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Though the songs individually aren’t long, you feel the depth and range of the Sunflower River eventually. By the time you reach the middle of this album, Black Brunswicker has painted a picture with denser strokes than Van Gogh and more meaning. It was a meditative experience, reaching all the way to Forest Bathing while immersing yourself in such incredible ambient folk. This is the music you think, delve into and get inspired with.
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