Before The World Was Big

Innocent, angsty, sweet girl group, grabbing minimalist raw naif instrumentation and sweet vocal harmonies to create a nostalgic, beautiful sound. (Better late than never: this was a summer release, but got unclaimed on the review shelf-- nearly a lost treasure!) No FCCs, and all tracks recommended. Some (track 4, "Chinatown") are beautiful and lush, and others are raw and angsty and unlush.

1. (2:46) ****** Minimalistic guitar strum, lotsa silence, sweet simple harmony, bratty and so so simple, occasional dissonance, ending in noise-out. Just lovely.
2. (1:54) *** Hushed and sombre and bedroomy.
3. (2:21) ***** Super-plinky toy kid's piano, bratty near-harmony screeching, really angsty and sweet, evolves into a round.
4. (3:28) ********* Strummy, voices are sweet and blend together beautifully, slow and super heartbreaking, and human. Amazing, amazing song.
5. (3:35) ***** SLOW... tiptoeing guitar and precise singing, into a lusher but bittersweet build.
6. (0:36) *** Short, bratty chant.
7. (2:00) **** Bittersweet midtempo plodding guitar, with noisy electric textures.
8. (1:51) *** Slow; watery sonic textures, swaying and soft harmonizing. Pretty minimal.
9. (3:09) ***** Angular, uptempo and sad, building to full cry-yelping. "Emily, Emily". Nostalgic at full-tilt.
10. (2:31) **** Simple and gentle strumming, building to discontent and emotion.