It took us a while to fully understand the artistic magnitude behind ‘Make Me Lighter’. You see, it’s an incredibly varied and nuanced album, a smorgasbord of dream pop, electronica and pop tones wrapped into meaningful – although rather cryptic – and evocative lyricism. Penned by South London extraordinaire Cheena Monsoon, the record feels crepuscular and cathartic, favouring leftfield sound design and emotional vocals, often drenched in a myriad of effects and audio processing.
A talented producer and songwriter, Cheena Monsoon grew up in Belgium, now calling the UK his home, especially after having graduated from Goldsmiths University in London. Such a mix of influences and roots plays a pivotal role in the enlightened eclecticism we hear in ‘Make Me Lighter’. It’s curious; we feel as though the album is both light and heavy. It is buoyant and brilliant in its aural choices, especially when it comes to nostalgic synths and bucolic drum machines. But then, the writing feels much heavier, as if Cheena Monsoon were to take a deep trip inside human consciousness.
Whichever way you look at it, ‘Make Me Lighter’ is a worthy listening experience. From the trip-hop, electronica-laden shores of ‘Majestic’, to the exotic matter in ‘Kotu’, to then landing on more conventional ballads in ‘Ace Queen’ – it’s all incredibly varied. ‘Fleeting Like Violas’ is a stunning example of relatable and melancholic writing paired with twitchy, leftfield production.
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