Nicole Dollanganger — Married in Mount Airy — Album Review
Alternative | Folk | Singer-Songwriter
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
Finally, we have the first actual official album for me to review in 2023!
While I’m fully aware that things always get off to a bit of a slow start musically with each new year, that hasn’t stopped me from itching to find the next great new project.
My initial slot for first true album review of the year was originally going to go to the likes of YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and his new album I Rest My Case, by virtue of his various features that I’ve enjoyed in the past, I did find the album a little bit too disappointing to really kick things off the way they should here in 2023, but I suppose here’s the oddly placed “honorary mention” for fans of YongBoy.
Besides which, I’ve had a good fill of hip-hop already as shown by my previous 2 articles; one for an EP, and one for a mixtape that technically came out last year. But now it’s time to review an official album, and one whose influences lie in more balladic territory.
That album comes from none other than Canadian singer-songwriter Nicole Dollanganger. The seventh album in her discography, Married in Mount Airy is truly the first instance of me discovering the artist. It makes me reflect on the good aspects of the more scarce times of music releases for sure. And these times do certainly bear some sweet musical fruits, as displayed by Married in Mount Airy and the beautifully haunting sound it possesses.
Nicole Dollanganger carries with her some really angelic vocals, which give off a vibe similar to the likes of Grimes, for instance. But pairing that with the folk-tinged ambience of the album’s instrumental sound, you have a project which does have quite the atmospheric grip on the listener.
And while we’re on the subject of the instrumental sound, there are unique elements aplenty to keep things interesting. But what really impressed me about this album, arguably more so than anything else, is its mood. I really find myself getting sucked in to the “world” that Married in Mount Airy creates, and I felt that it really conveyed an almost isolating feeling successfully.
I would say that in terms of memorability, this album does have a slipperier grip than most (counting out its atmospheric qualities, of course). However, the tone of the album does a marvellous job of staying consistent throughout.
And while it is going to be a far cry from the most energetic album we will get this year, that’s certainly not the purpose of Married in Mount Airy. Rather, it’s purpose is to be a soothing yet haunting experience, which I feel it achieves to great effect.
Admittedly, January of 2023 has proven to be a bit of a weird month so far in regards to reviewing music. Combining the scarcity of new music, and just how damn busy I’ve been, I haven’t truly kicked off the musical year in the way that I had hoped. Even so, Married in Mount Airy is certainly a good way to officially get things off to a start.
Favourite Tracks: Gold Satin Dreamer | My Darling True | Nymphs Finding the Haed of Orpheus
Least favourite Track: Runnin’ Free
Independently Released
