Lily Juniper - Bloom Gloom

Sep 21

South London-born artist Lily Juniper’s debut LP, Bloom Gloom, is as up-and-down emotionally as its juxtaposed title suggests. The thirteen-track album takes the listener on a journey of nostalgia and self-reflection, all wrapped up in a buzzing electronic pop soundscape that is rich and mesmerizing.

The production of the album is definitely its standout quality; the ambience throughout the record is strong and consistent, with the whole project carrying a hazy, dreamy quality that almost makes it a little uncanny in places, but in an way that works in its favor — this unique sensation makes the album stand out more. The multi-layered synths create a unique, otherworldly atmosphere that carries from the hypnotizing opener, “Feel Good”, all the way until the final notes of “Lungs”, the closing track, without letting up. The electronic percussion and pulsing bass lines which form the foundation of the instrumentals give the album a boost in energy and keep it , and are fairly varied in terms of tempo and intensity throughout, which gives the project a deal of dynamism that is quite necessary. And there are highlights at both ends of the spectrum in terms of pace — both within the slower, more pensive tracks like “Sorry” or “Babe”, and the faster cuts such as “Fold” or “Who Am I, You?”.

Lily Juniper’s vocals bring the album to an interesting intersection between electronic and indie sounds. There’s a certain air resembling Born To Die era Lana Del Rey in the style of her singing, and the fit is a little unorthodox, but the album makes it work, with that same slightly distant sound given to the vocals allowing them to blend in better. The overall sound makes the album feel like it was made for a long, late-night drive by yourself, looking out of the window and contemplating everything about your life.

These themes of navigating the complex moments of one’s life carry over into the lyrics, too. Juniper returns a lot to the contrasts that gave the album its name, and, though the writing isn’t overly complex, it’s quite poetic and captivating at times. It’s not always the clearest to make out, though; it’s easy at times to get lost in the atmosphere and the instrumentals and lose track of the narration. But when it is easier to follow along, the writing is solid nonetheless.

Overall, Bloom Gloom is a strong project for Lily Juniper to make her full debut with; it’s creative, atmospheric and well-executed, with several highlights that have a good amount of replay value. There are areas still worth building on, but the potential for that growth is definitely already noticeable.

7.3/10

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