New York-based singer/songwriter
Aisha Badru made her appearance on the scene in 2015 with her self-released
Vacancy EP. A tightly knit collection of left-field pop-folk songs, the release achieved wider attention in 2016 when her track "Waiting Around" was picked up for use in an international marketing campaign. Having subsequently signed to
Nettwerk,
Badru delivers her first album here --
Pendulum -- a record composed of wintry, calm atmospheres and introspective lyrics. Things open nicely with "Mind on Fire," which is composed of softly strummed acoustic guitar, harmonized female vocals, and
Badru's soft falsetto voice echoing throughout the mix. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic but still hugely intriguing --
Badru's desire to seek out the girl with "her mind on fire" and a "heart as big as the sea" reminds listeners that there are still songwriters out there who can passionately and intricately tell a story through mature songwriting. The eclecticism of
Pendulum's sound palette is a strong aspect of the album. "Bridges" delivers skittering electronic beats alongside rich and resonant strings that rise to crescendos throughout, only to fall away abruptly and leave
Badru's voice serenading you alone, tinged with a warm, enveloping reverb. "Waiting Around" is also featured here. Slightly different from its EP version, it includes additional instrumentation, consisting of softly strummed guitar with beautiful piano and midtempo percussion. "Fossil Fuels" comprises morose synthesized keys with minimalistic effects;
Aphex Twin-style beats are scattered around, drenched in that warm reverb, while
Badru whispers "You turn me on like a faucet/And you left me running, drip, drip."
Pendulum is a brilliant debut LP from an artist who clearly has a gift with words and a tendency to paint a picture with her songwriting. ~ Rob Wacey
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