Phebe StarrChronicles
Indie

- Sometimes time works wonders on the creative soul. That is incredibly apparent in the case of Phebe Starr. It’s taken four years for her to release her second EP Chronicles, but for good reason. A huge leap forward from her 2013 EP Zero, the six tracker is full of different tales: love, loss, surrender, misogyny, dreams.

While on the surface Chronicles seems like a standard electro-pop record, lyrically the EP is full of deep emotions and real struggles. Thematically, Starr doesn’t linger on the overdone topic of love too much, instead incorporating other more important topics. Take for example They Keep Telling Me, a powerful anthem about standing up to the patriarchy and spitting in the face of sexist jerks. The chorus says it all: “They keep telling me / What I’m meant to be / They don’t know.” Combined with the punchy synth riffs and strong vocals, the track really gets the message across without coming off as too whiny.

It’s hard to pick the standout track on the EP, as each song tells a different story. Feel My Love, the opener, sets the pace for the EP. Sharp melodies, pulsing synth tracks and big harmonic arrangements carry the song through its three-and-a-half minute journey. Two Hearts is filled with tasteful drum beats and an impressive display of Starr’s vocal range. Lavender Scars is the ballad of the EP, layered with lush harmonies and soaring woodwind. Her lower register is showcased, and the softness of it gives an overall feeling of relief in the face of torment. Dream is accented with sharp crescendos, groovy melodies, disjointed lyrics and a sense of déjà vu. The acapella opening in Wonder is hymn like, creating a sense of serenity that twists and ties together with the lyrics, exploring the feeling of surrendering to the mystery of the world.

The only let down on the record is the production is slightly overdone in some parts. Starr really hits the nail on the head in the song writing department, but her upbeat tracks sometimes feel like they have too many things going on. If you could make more sense of the lyrics it would drive the point home much better.

Chronicles is more than an EP - it’s a six chapter tale of fighting through the torment and struggles in this world. It’s nice to see pop music that has more beneath the surface than just boy troubles, but it would be even better to hear more of the voice that’s hidden beneath the glittery production. It’s good to see Phebe Starr back in the game with a strong release. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we see more.

- Olivia Shoesmith.

Phebe StarrChronicles

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