Caroline - Murmurs

Caroline
Murmurs
Temporary Residence Ltd.
Grade: A-

After last year’s shockingly brilliant single “Where’s My Love,” expectations were admittedly absurdly high for Caroline’s debut full-length Murmurs. While the whole of Murmurs can’t maintain the genius of “Where’s My Love,” the nine songs do provide great ambient electro-synth-pop from Caroline Lufkin. Born and raised in Okinawa, schooled at Berklee in Boston, and initially working in pop music in Tokyo, Caroline decided to break free of the treadmill, move to LA, and start her solo career simply with her voice and computer. After sending “Where’s My Love” to TRL, the label quickly released the single and now finally her full-length. For this record, Caroline employs a massive cadre of musicians to create the intricate and complex sounds. Murmurs opens in rather unfortunate form on the first thirty seconds of “Bicycle” before Caroline’s voice comes into guide you away to goodness and away from awkward horns. “Bicycle” sets the stage for what many compare to Icelandic/Scandinavian electronic instrumentals with angel-infused vocal whispers and dashes of pop to help counter esoteric movements. Indeed this is supported on the following and excellent “Pink & Black” and more withdrawn “Sunrise.” “Where’s My Love” comes next and as mentioned above will basically sweep you off your feet for several hours at a time. If there was one song to seek out in whatever fashion it is “Where’s My Love” – and that we haven’t heard the song shooting across the globe on all outlets is baffling. “Everylittlething” is a successful follow-up to the star as Caroline introduces a set of danceable beats and club-ready haunts. Without Caroline’s consistently gorgeous vocals “All I Need” would just be running water, while “Drove Me to the Wall” is a bit of a misstep. “I’ll Leave My Heart Behind” features an upbeat Caroline with ethereal electronics and a piano that transitions to a pop chorus. “Winter” closes out Murmurs in true ghostly snow princess form and will certainly cement Caroline as a champion of the sound. Again, the other eight songs of Murmurs aren’t as stunning as “Where’s My Love,” but the magic still persists simply in other forms.