Mary Knoblock explores self-discovery and choosing yourself on her stirring new album Peach
A wildly creative and expansive artist that we have covered extensively on the site, Mary Knoblock is somebody who’s immersive, often ethereal soundscapes and thoughtful writing have seen her connecting with listeners on a wide range of levels, with her vulnerable new album PEACH providing her with a new era as an artist characterised by self-discovery and emotional honesty.
The album opens with ‘Mustang Clover’, a track that immediately opens the album with tender, lush keys and her ever-nuanced and compelling vocals that float effortlessly together to create a truly resonating listening experience. It immediately sets the tone for an album that is full of alluring and sweet moments, and has a softness to it that feels welcoming and warm. There is also an extended deluxe version of the track that comes at the end of the album.
There is a bit more of an intensity to ‘Metal Neon Sky’, a track that has a more free-flowing and unrestricted feel to it throughout, with the instrumentation pacing wildly to create a more chaotic backdrop to her vocals while maintaining the atmospheric allure that she creates in such bold and memorable fashion. Mary’s more spaced out and blissful tones return on the title track ‘Peach’, a track that has a more subdued and stripped-back feel to it stylistically while still holding onto your attention throughout.
The sparkling ‘Mother’s Eyes’ has a crystalline glow to it stylistically, offering it a cinematic and stirring feel to it throughout while continuing to float softly as so many of her tracks do, whereas the more string-oriented ‘I Knew You’ has more of a twang to the instrumentation as she explores themes like love and fond memories with a thoughtful, nostalgic glow.
More of the artist’s skilful flourishes on the keys make ‘Of the Alpine’ into the majestic and rewarding listen that it is, seemingly flowing and wandering with a mind of its own alongside another typically composed vocal performance that is packed full of emotion and heart while never losing the trademark clarity and lush textures that she is known for.
The final track on the album aside from the aforementioned extended version of ‘Mustang Clover’ and a blue grass rendition of ‘Peach’ is ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, a track that has the kind of hopeful optimism and belief in yourself and your future that the album is built on. The album as a whole explores some of the storms that life faces you with and the pitfalls and hurdles that you face along the way, but is more about the person that you emerge as and what you find out about yourself, having the bravery to choose yourself and know your worth and what you deserve when time comes.
