As much as we love a soundscape and a compelling production, we also love more intimate, stripped-back material, records that make you reflect while giving you a heartwarming, wholesome aural hug. ‘Eclipse Era’ is a perfect example of that, the latest alt-folk effort by Frankfurt-based singer-songwriter and travelling musician Annie Mondegreen. As we dive into the EP, we are taken aback by its functional simplicity. Built on gentle acoustic guitars and sparse arrangements, the record sees Mondegreen practising a certain minimalism, letting her wonderful, sensible songwriting reach listeners with ease and hypnotic allure.
Equally, Annie’s vocals do not hide behind production artefacts or a thousand harmonies, instead baring the songs’ soul with restraint and nostalgic flair. From a lyrical standpoint, ‘Eclipse Era’ is incredibly honest and forthcoming, seeking to expose all of the emotional chaos and messiness that often follows love. The record was recorded at Urchin Studios in London with notable producer and musician Jim Wallis.
The highs and lows, the little fears, the rejection and the romance; everything plays a part in making the EP so relatable and human. We appreciate how Mondegreen goes to the core of what it means to truly love while embracing vulnerability. ‘Eclipse Era’ focuses on six different emotional states involving love (one per song), including “reaching for someone you cannot reach, feeling love become obsession, being misunderstood, and choosing your own path even when it means losing the one you love most”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Eclipse Era’ now: