Stephanie Babirak – Rotten Fruit
New York City’s Stephanie Babirak is an exceptionally talented harpist, singer-songwriter, and composer that utilizes a synthesis of classical and contemporary influences to achieve atmospheric, indie-folk bliss in her new release, Rotten Fruit. Lyrical content and sonic moods focusing on what it means for something to be “bad” help Babirak attain a wondrous quality in her latest release.
The album starts off with “Apocalypse,” which boasts a calming harp and a big bass drum. The song is beach-y, with a smooth, buttery guitar accompaniment. The bits of syncopated percussion sprinkled in add flourishes of aural interest. Song two, “Waves and Whispers,” is a lackadaisical and sweet lullaby. When listening with headphones, the song is truly stunning and immersive. “My thoughts are heavy with your name,” is softly cooed, and the hum of the bass and backup vocals is transcendent.
Following the lushness of “Hey Cain,” we come across Song four, “Waterline.” The album’s title comes from this tune, which is a reference to the Biblical idea of basing your perception on the product instead of what that thing claims to be. The vocals sizzle a little bit, and there is a crispy tambourine and floor toms with extra oomph. Track five is “Lakeside” – it separates itself from the other songs with its urgency. A woody snare captures attention, and there are dazzling synth glimmers and brass-sounding distorted guitars.
“Moon River” is slow and dreamy, and Song seven, “Utah,” takes first place regarding the most folk-sounding tune on Rotten Fruit. The closing song is “Coda,” which features a delayed harp that blooms from the center of your headphones outward to the tips of your ears. “Coda” is so relaxing, and the harp itself is like the twinkling of windblown leaves in the sunlight.
All in all, Rotten Fruit is captivating and a successful pitch from Stephanie Babirak. The album is FFO She & Him, Weyes Blood, and Leith Ross. Settle into your coziest nook and let the waves of this album take you away. Rotten Fruit is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Jake Sessanna