Born Again

Hamilton, Ontario-based singer/songwriter Linnea Siggelkow got her professional start in the Toronto music scene, playing in bands before beginning to share her intimate solo material in small performance spaces around the city. Adopting the stage name Ellis (a play on her initials), she self-released an EP called The Fuzz in late 2018, leading to a record contract with none other than Fat Possum. Arriving about a year and a half later, Born Again is her full-length and label debut. Working with producer Jake Aron (Snail Mail, Yumi Zouma), she refined the lush, grungy atmospheres of her EP for ten tracks that pair personal, vulnerable lyrics and a resigned vocal delivery with a mix of guitar distortion and lofty synth atmosphere. The ballad Shame showcases all these traits, with downcast verses accompanied by economical drums and sauntering guitar before spacy, string-like keyboards, soaring guitar lines, and crashing cymbals join the choruses. The songs plain-spoken lyrics address an emotionally abusive partner (And you took all of my words, used them against me/When I tried to talk about the way you wronged me). Its a blueprint that fits the bulk of the album, though exceptions include the piano-based, drums-free March 13 and the even-keeled Happy, which maintains its arrangement of vocals, guitar, and bass throughout its short series of verses. Closing track Zhuangzis Dream is a delicate, dreamy lament that ends the album with its fortissimo second act. Recalling names like Tomberlin and especially Julien Baker, Ellis melodies are much less memorable than her plaintive sentiments, making Born Again an album for the heavyhearted. ~ Marcy Donelson