The band is strongly marked by the voice and inspirations of Emily Cross who, already accompanied by Dan Duszynski, to whom she was married, also embodies the Cross Record duo. As well as making music, she works as a death doula for people condemned by illness, or those seeking to make peace with their own finitude. The duo met Jonathan Meiburg from Shearwater on tour and quietly recorded an album under the name Loma, although they were not sure whether they wanted to follow it up. Brian Eno noticed the album and took part in the recording of their second album.
This third album was partly inspired by poems generated by an artificial intelligence trained by Laurie Anderson and her body of writing. On the other hand, the difficulties of reuniting the members of the group who live in England, Texas and Germany have shaped the compositions. You could call it impressionistic pop-folk, like little clouds of musical vapour that melt and evaporate. The calm, drawling voice is backed up by an acoustic guitar whose notes ebb and flow, or an electric guitar whose distortion is used as a support without any aggressive aspect. The drums set a contemplative rhythm.
This is an album that deserves several listens and a good sound level adjustment to appreciate all the subtleties of the resonance of the notes of the different instruments and the intonations of the voice. Piano, wind instruments and recordings of natural sounds, such as birdsong, complement those already mentioned. The drums sometimes seem distant, sometimes more encompassing, without taking over the soundstage. While the music isn’t one of the warmest, the sound of the record isn’t particularly sharp, making it a pleasant listen at any volume level.
