IF LISTENERS
ARE ABLE TO RE-
CEIVE THE GOLDEN ECHO
WITH AN OPEN MIND AND
APPRECIATE THE MASTER-
L MUSICIANSHIP AND LOVE
turn to the ethereal, the slow
burner “Love in High Places”
highlights Kimbra’s celestial
TION, THE ALBUM WILL PAY
sonic concepts and producDIVIDENDS FOR YEARS TO
tion, along with a strong dose
COME
of Thundercat’s viciously heavy,
syncopated bass in the chorus.
Finally, in what could maybe be
considered the centerpiece of the album,
“Nobody But You” is a compositionally intricate
song, with its accessible verses and chorus and spacey
bridge. The track seems to embody what Kimbra’s
sound is about: catchy hooks, danceable grooves, all
underscored by intensely elaborate and sophisticated
ideas and production.
THAT WENT INTO ITS CRE-
cohesive, succinct pop songs from the tried and true
cookie cutter formula. What is abundantly clear here
is that Kimbra could create those types of songs if she
chose to go that route. She did not. It’s as if she wrote
songs to reel in audiences, as pop songs do, but then
just kept going, taking her music in fascinatingly unpredictable directions. If listeners are able to receive
The Golden Echo with an open mind and appreciate
the masterful musicianship and love that went into
its creation, the album will pay dividends for years to
come.
One’s perception and reaction to The Golden Echo will
undoubtedly be partly determined by that person’s
preconceived expectations and desires. Those expecting more mainstream, radio-friendly hits like her work
with Gotye might be dumbfounded and disappointed
by the complicated music on the album and lack of
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