Album Review: Polaroids & Postcards EP by Amanda Easton

#byLizPublika

First and foremost, Amanda Easton — the Australian theatrical-pop artist who has released two self-penned albums and three EPs — is a storyteller. Her music is narrative driven and emotionally fueled without ever crossing into unpleasant or overwhelming territory. Instead, her gentle voice coupled with lyrical poetry over some rather sick beats make for a very nice combination that shows off her musical abilities, as well as a range of influences that inspire her.

Polaroids & Postcards was released in December of last year, and it is the final EP out of three — the other two being Out of the Blue and Disco Disconnected. The six-track “mini album” can be described as comprised of soulful lounge music; it features elements of pop, jazz, electronica, and swing. “I was packing up my Mum's house when I discovered a box of old letters and photos of mine and it brought back lots of memories!” explains the artist. “These songs are all from personal experiences — some joy and love, some heartbreak.”

The album was produced by Wow and Warmth, Mavoi, and Easton herself. It begins with the “Man Who Fell to Earth.” The track has a long start, but really picks up about one minute in. First, though, it tells a story: “You sang to me, In French and Italian, I held it to my chest, And then I pinned it to the wall. You gave to me, A sweet science fiction, The needle drops again, And then you open up the door, You broke me when you left me, Even though we never met, I hope the man among the stars is treating you well.”

“Eye to Eye” is next. It’s a much slower track than the one before it, but it’s also got some electronic elements; think slow tempo and 1940s style vocals with a modern twist. It’s intimate, slow, and very romantic, though it does have a hint of sadness, too. It is followed by “I Saw the Message,” which is a track about cheating, hope, and denial. It’s got a great melody, and a nice and steady beat throughout most of the song, though it dramatically picks up about two thirds of the way in.

On “Letter to a Small Boy,” Easton shares her hopes and dreams for a young child, and does so in a very vulnerable — almost heartbreaking — kind of way way. The song is very interesting from a musical angle because it predominantly relies on notes that are long and deep. Then comes the title song, which faster and more aggressive than anything else on the EP; and even though most people will probably really dig it, it’s not my my personal favorite. The last track on the album is “Rockabilly Blue”; it’s also kind of heavy, but it’s more interesting in composition and arrangement than the one before it.

Overall Polaroids & Postcards is a pretty great EP. Check out more from Amanda Easton here.

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