A move to sunny Los Angeles and a deal with eclectic indie Anti Records haven't done much to temper
Doe Paoro's lonesome, windswept moodiness. The upstate New York native first appeared in 2012 with her self-released debut,
Slow to Love, a shifty collection of lush synth soul that was, if anything, even warmer in tone than her 2015 follow-up,
After. A non-album single called "The Wind" arrived earlier in the year and found
Paoro paired up with acclaimed vibe-setter
Justin Vernon (
Bon Iver), who then offered up his Wisconsin studio for the album's sessions. On
After,
Bon Iver percussionist
Sean Carey (known as
S. Carey on his solo releases) and co-producer
BJ Burton (
Sylvan Esso,
Tallest Man on Earth) help
Paoro channel a more fully realized version of the dark atmospherica she introduced on her debut. On the more textural tracks like "Traveling" and "Regret," she mixes the digital iciness of artists like
Lykke Li and
Bat for Lashes with some of
Bon Iver's expansive acoustic soundscapes in a midnight cocktail befitting her smoky voice.
Paoro's already percussive style is aided throughout by
Carey's unique nonlinear drumming, which -- while generally subtle -- is sometimes used to dramatic effect, like on the '80s-inspired chorus of "Untethered." Lead single "Nostalgia" also provides some of the more overt pop moments on a record that, at times, feels so processed and synthesized that the simpler, piano-led arrangements, particularly on the soulful "Outlines," feel like a breath of fresh air. ~ Timothy Monger