Daydreamer

ジャズ・ヴォーカル～ポピュラー・ヴォーカル、60'Sポップ・ミュージックをインスパイアの源とし、モダン & ヴィンテージな現代的シンガーソングライターの在り方を追求する モーリー・バーチ。
2021年リリース『ROMANTIC IMAGES』以来となる4THアルバム『DAYDREAMER』をリリース!
13歳の頃の日記を見つけたことをきっかけに、当時の自分と大人になった現在の自分との対話をテーマとした作品。 プロデューサーにJACK TATUM (WILDNOTHING)を迎え、韓国系カナダ人ドリームポップ / ベッドルームポップ・プロジェクトLUNA LIもゲスト参加しています。リード・シングル "PHYSICAL "は、ジョン・カーペンターのホラー映画サントラを彷彿させる80S感覚溢れるミッドテンポ・ジャムに仕上がっています。

Molly Burch arrived on the broader indie scene in the later part of the 2010s with a smoky, often pouty vocal delivery that complemented moody indie pop songs with conspicuous vocal era and vintage Brill Building inspirations. By her third album (not counting a holiday release), 2021s Romantic Images, she had shifted to a sleeker, synth-polished sound evoking 80s pop and displaying more self-assurance. The latter album was produced by tourmates Tennis and featured contributions from Wild Nothings Jack Tatum. Tatum returns here to produce the stylistically like-minded Daydreamer. A personal album, Daydreamer was inspired by Burch returning to her childhood home and coming across diaries from when she was 13 and younger. Around that time of her life, she realized that she could sing, but struggles with issues like body dysmorphia and shyness prevented her from pursuing it, at least until her sister stepped in with crucial encouragement. (Burch went on to major in jazz vocal performance as a college student.) Memories like these are captured on tracks such as the ethereal, driving "2003" ("Waiting for my turn/Watching my heart yearn/Always retreating"). Like many of the songs here, its sparkling sophisti-pop inclinations include soft, trebly synth tones, lively basslines, and plenty of delay. The more midtempo "Champion," a love song, even includes an extended, 80s-vintage saxophone solo. Elsewhere, dancy synth pop entry "Unconditional" features tinny keyboard timbres distinctive to the early 80s, and the funkier "Heartburn" incorporates touches of disco, including syncopated strings and an upbeat-accenting hi-hat. Although certainly not without their seductive qualities, Burchs yearning, often high-reaching vocals remain breezy and sincere throughout, letting her accompaniment emphasize the dreamy, sentimental qualities of the album and its inspirations. Written with compassion and through the lens of the wisdom that comes with age, it proves to be her most confident release to date. ~ Marcy Donelson

普遍的なポップスの形式を取り入れつつモダンな艶感のある音世界を作り上げる彼女の4作目は、80sスタイルの品評会的な趣の内容となり、マドンナ愛を大きく膨らませたラグジュアリーなエレポップ系など、まどろみを誘うような美曲が満載。杏里の『Timely!!』に入っていても違和感のなさそうなAOR系のミッド"Heartburn"などはシティ・ポップ好きも無視できないだろう。
bounce (C)桑原シロー