Molly Trueman's debut album "Angels & Aliens," that Montreal-based artist bursts confidently into the indie music landscape, a provocateur with a brooding agenda bent to hers not just for a lark but also for the sake of unifying raw emotion with sonic experimentation rooted at a deep and philosophical level. "Angels & Aliens" reveals Trueman's knack for pairing folk's coziness with alternative rock's burr, making for a potent commentary on both personal and political turmoil.
"Angels & Aliens" is "I Won't Sleep Soundly," a hauntingly achingly devastating number that originated after George Floyd's murder. Sparse acoustic guitar, ambient synths, and emotionally charged vocals capture the exhaustion and urgency of attempting to exist in an unjust world. The song is a testament to her narrative gifts, honoring pain and strength in equal measure, one that arcades fire long after the last note fades.
"Angels & Aliens" and her not-so-secret songs "Lungs" and "Stranger" provide further evidence of her depth as an artist. "Lungs" throbs with reserved intensity, its bare-bones production making each lyric weigh heavier. At the same time, "Stranger" marries mawkish melodies and airy, cushioned instrumentation, nodding to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Madison Cunningham. "Angels & Aliens" echoes Radiohead's textural complexity, and Paramore's cathartic energy is palpable, showing that Trueman isn't afraid to explore and push sonic boundaries.
Due to being recorded in her bedroom with a DIY mentality, "Angels & Aliens" has an unprocessed authenticity that makes it feel more like an intimate exchange than an album. "Shotgun" 's raw production and layered instrumentation showcase Trueman's dedication to creating a sound that fuses the profoundly personal with the universally resonant.
Molly Trueman announces herself here as an alluring new addition to alt-folk's roster and, consequently, to what should be a bright future ahead. "Angels & Aliens" is a revelation album that invites you into a space that refracts vulnerability with defiance and the celestial splattered across the chaotic.