Saddle Creek presents an intermediate release from the emerging songwriter, showcasing a broader expressive palette and more colorful arrangements
After her lo-fi debut, At Weddings, Sara Beth Tomberlin takes a more polished path in her new EP, Projections, a collection of 4 new tracks and one cover from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Surely, Sara has a more canonical approach to 90s-oriented songwriting than labelmate Adrianne Lenker, but definitely Projections offers an interesting palette of melodies and, despite Alex G’s presence as a producer, a more elaborate set of arrangements, verging towards a chamber-like ambience.
This is showcased in “Hours”, opening track in the EP, with its calibrated chamber-folk acoustic set, deploying unobtrusive string arrangements in the background. “Sin”, instead, brings to the table a more elusively slacker feel, coupling droning electroacustic electric guitars and slightly sarcastic riffs.
Overall, the EP sounds like a preparation to a big leap in Tomberlin’s aspirations. More confidence in orchestrating arrangements and in exploring songwriting styles and moods is certainly a feature of Projections. Out on October 16th from Saddle Creek.
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