Walking fine lines between classical grace and folk finesse, rock gravitas and pop accessibility, Visions Through Amber is a remarkable album. And just the opening brace of songs, when considered side by side, gives you an immediate demonstration as to just how much ground is being covered here.
If the opening, title track has something of the Renaissance, or at least the neoclassical, about it, with deftly woven, timeless folk infusions that seem to resonate down the years, “A Little Peak,” which follows, sits closer to a folk-pop sound. Yet even this second song is soaked in so many fine sonic choices that its pop heart hits creative benchmarks that elevate it far above the commercial and mainstream realms… realms that would be far better and much more musically healthy if they embraced such sounds rather than the lowest common denominator sounds which are now the norm.
“The Keep’s Keeper” is a soaring piece of anthemic folk-rock, whose balance of grace and groove, its ever-evolving nature, those sweeping violins, and the voice as an instrument, along with vocal textures, make it sound like the epic score to the latest historical blockbuster movie. “Let’s Just Stay” pushes those same cinematic vibes and acoustic delicacies into the sort of big, alt-rock realm Evanessence explored so well, and “Nuits Crevees” is a gorgeous French-language duet running on almost arabesque vibes.
Visions Through Amber is a triumph, a melting pot of virtuoso playing and easy accessibility, understated finesse and explosive sonics, deft vocals and dexterous arrangements.
I’m not sure where you would place this on the musical map, but that is the great thing about great music: try as you might, you can’t pin it down. and why would you want to?
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