Little Shells - 5 Deep Under (Self-Released)

Little Shells is the project of Brooklyn singer/songwriter Conchita Campos, and her new album, 5 Deep Under is a grand, tour de force of orchestral pop. Grand in the way they don’t make albums anymore. But rather than the classical orchestral pop of a band like The Left Banke, there’s a cabaret, theatrical element to the songs here, as if 5 Deep Under is less of an album and more of a soundtrack for a musical yet to be produced by an off-Broadway company. The opening song itself, “Another Night,” sounds like something out of a dark and mysterious touring circus.

Vocally, Campos is reminiscent of St. Vincent and the same love of experimentation and lush production is also there as well, especially on songs like the title track and “I’ll Remain.” Elsewhere, the music is comprised mostly of jazzy, piano-led ballads, summed up perfectly on the beautifully melancholy “When They’re Gone,” backed with stunningly attuned orchestration. The list of session players on this album is long, and it’s obvious they don’t go to waste. There are layers upon layers of hidden details in the production that doesn’t go fully noticed until repeated listens. 5 Deep Under is a special album, and there desperately needs to be more works of art and passion combined like it.