Conchis’ debut album, Chapters, is an ambitious journey through the depths of human emotion and experience, offering a textured exploration of themes like loss, yearning, and resilience. After five years in the making, the Finnish multi-disciplinary artist has crafted a strikingly raw and vulnerable record, a work made even more remarkable given her battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). To navigate these challenges, Conchis limited herself to five vocal takes per song, a self-imposed rule that lends, Chapters, an authentic, unpolished charm. The result is an album that resonates with honesty and an almost tactile sense of her artistic and personal journey.
The album’s opening track, “Trees Grow Higher,” immediately sets a contemplative tone, exploring personal growth and the quiet wisdom of patience. Conchis uses the image of a tree—a symbol of resilience and groundedness—to counterbalance the pressure of today’s fast-paced world, with rhythmic beats ticking like a clock. The meditative layers of electronica are softly enveloping, encouraging the listener to pause and reflect. This track lays a serene foundation, preparing listeners for the emotional complexity of what’s to come.
Mid-album highlights, like “Floods” and “She Was Born,” delve into Conchis’ reflections on both global and personal crises. “Floods” takes a fervent, Fever Ray-esque approach, pairing forceful production with environmental concerns, creating a visceral sonic experience that echoes the urgency of climate change. In “She Was Born,” Conchis processes the pain of her mother’s passing, layering stripped-back vocals over dreamlike textures to create a vulnerable homage. Her journey through grief and healing imbues the album with poignant authenticity, capturing the listener’s empathy and inviting them into her inner world.
The album closes with “Calm Your Mind,” an unexpectedly prophetic track Conchis wrote before her illness took hold, only for the lyrics to gain deeper meaning in retrospect. This closing piece is a fitting end to, Chapters, encapsulating the journey of survival and acceptance. Its avant-garde synths slice through a heavy, pulsing backdrop, mimicking the fragile persistence of life amid struggles. As the final notes fade into a slow heartbeat, Chapters, leaves a haunting impression, a reminder of Conchis’ resilience and her unique, introspective voice within contemporary music.
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