MARIA SOMERVILLE - Luster

After spending her early adult years in Dublin, Irish singer-songwriter Maria Somerville decided to leave the metropolitan area behind and settle back into the quiet of County Galway, where she grew up. Her debut for the historic 4AD label soaks up the region's landscapes (with explicit tributes such as "Corrib"), while retaining a clearly abstract quality. The lyrical component is vague and undefined, as is customary in dream-pop, especially its most ethereal strain; lake-dotted areas, mists over the hills, open fields and coastal headlands appear as rarefied elements, merely suggested to the listener rather than imposed on their perception.

On "Luster" oneiric and earthly currents feed into one another, and even when the sound drifts into starry skies, the bass pulses keep the songs anchored to a sensory, physical body. So in "Garden" the wandering through the metaphorical sea caves of the subconscious is driven by percussion and steady beats; or in "Violet" the metaphysical atmosphere is scratched by metallic screeches.

Although the lo-fi aesthetic that defined Somerville's first LP resurfaces at times, on "Luster" the layered sound is also the result of an expanded array of instrumentation. Almost paradoxically, now that she has left the capital behind, the singer-songwriter has made a record in which numerous collaborations play a crucial role. External touches and brushstrokes enrich a core of songs underpinned by consistently high-level lyrical and musical songwriting, making this collection one of the best dream-pop releases of the year so far.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

21/06/2025