New Music Reviews: Richard Dawson & Circle, Mr. Twin Sister, and Art School Girlfriend

We’ve had a few high-profile artists recently, but we’re back to the niches this week – the folk-prog of Richard Dawson & Circle, the eclectic indie-pop of Mr. Twin Sister, and the dreamy ambient pop of Art School Girlfriend. Enjoy!

Richard Dawson & Circle

Henki

2021, 9/10
Newcastle Upon Tyne’s errant folkie Richard Dawson is prolific, releasing a deluge of material as a solo artist, in collaborations like Hen Ogledd, and under the alter-ego Eyeballs. His rough-hewn guitar and wide-ranging vocals are distinctive. On Henki, he’s linked up with the experimental Finnish band Circle, and created a progressive rock concept album about plants. As a teenage Iron Maiden fan, playing with Circle is a natural fit for Dawson – it makes him more accessible as the fuller arrangements and harmonies sweeten his wild forays into falsetto. Henki is essentially a full-fledged foray into progressive rock, with long songs and botanical concepts – Genesis’ 1971 epic ‘Return of the Giant Hogweed’ is an obvious frame of reference. But while a lot of modern progressive rock lacks personality and sounds sterile, Dawson’s blues leanings and rough vocals makes him a compelling frontman.

The storytelling of Henki is the focal point, and it’s a fascinating collection of botanical tales. ‘Methuselah’ is about Donald Currey, who unwittingly cut down the world’s oldest tree. Opener ‘Cooksonia’ is in 3/4 with a sea-shanty feel, a biography of Australian botanist Isabel Cookson, whom the first known land-based vascular plant is named after. The dynamics of ‘Ivy’ emphasise the part of the tale about the myth of King Midas, which makes it seem out of place – even though the chorus “Tendrils surging up/Ahhhh-ahhhhhh-ahhhh/Overflowing cup” is thoroughly botanical. The harder-rocking tracks showcase Circle’s skills – ‘Silphium’, about a now-extinct plant that was the backbone of the antiquarian Cyrene economy, and the closing ‘Pitcher’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nly2TwK4tio

Rocking, full of personality, AND educational – it’s a tough combo to beat.

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Mr. Twin Sister

Al Mundo Azul

2021, 8.5/10
New York band Mr Twin Sister have been around since 2008, adding the title Mr to their name in 2014. Their music is eclectic – they like the jittery funk of Talking Heads, but there are also Latin flavours with Spanish lyrics and flamenco guitars. The arrangements are strong – the different textures from keyboardist Dev Gupta add to the variety, while the funky guitar provides energy. Andrea Estella is an excellent frontwoman, adding personality without being overbearing.

The material on Al Mundo Azul is diverse, bringing out different facets of Mr Twin Sister’s sound. ‘Polvo’ has an especially creative arrangement with its funky guitar and synth whooshes, and it defies genre classification more than most. ‘Diary’ has a gentle and percolating beat, but the guitars and keyboards are pushing toward disco. ‘Ballarino’ is instantly hooky, while ‘Carmen’ features flamenco guitars. The crown jewel is the gear shifting ‘Expressions’, funky and tuneful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trunh5XUoa8

Al Mundo Azul is light and breezy, but it’s certainly not light on ideas.

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Art School Girlfriend

Is It Light Where You Are

2021, 7/10
Art School Girlfriend is the project of Polly Mackey, who comes from a small town in Wales. On her debut album, Is It Light Where You Are, she plays gloomy goth-pop where her airy voice floats over the top of the unsettling synths. Art School Girlfriend was her girlfriend’s idea for a DJ name, but the debut album was prompted by the end of their relationship.

“After we broke up,” she recalls, “I ended up sleeping on my friend’s sofa. I would wake up at 7am, drive to the Hampstead ponds, go swimming, use the showers… and then I’d go straight to the studio. And that was what I did for two weeks. During those two weeks, I’d say the bulk of the album was written and produced. Then I spent a year slowly working on it.”

https://atwoodmagazine.com/asgl-art-school-girlfriend-is-it-light-where-you-are-album-review-music-feature/

https://youtu.be/fZtp7Rh6JG4

Is It Light Where You Are is a little homogenous to sit through, but there are some excellent tracks. ‘Softer Side’ has a feel of a 1980s ballad, with its synths and reverb. ‘Low Light’ is an accessible pop tune, even though the long and drab coda indicates that Mackey’s aiming for emotional impact rather than hooks.

Mackie is capable of a stronger and more diverse record than Is It Light Where You Are, but it’s a solid start to her career nonetheless.

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