Strutting a soaring electro-pop sound with ’80s aesthetic nostalgia, “Open-Mindedness” is a track from Aura Blaze, the project of New Jersey-based musician Rhode Rachel. Coming from the newly released 3-track EP of the same name, “Open-Mindedness” enthralls with lush distant backing vocal effects, a swelling synth pad, and an eerie glistening that leads into the solemn vocal lead. Past the one-minute turn, the vocals exude a more charismatic uptick, aesthetically sporting a throwback tint relatively reminiscent of Annie Lennox’s “Don’t Let It Bring You Down.” The bass-laden escalation in the second half also recalls Neon Indian’s Vega Intl. Night School, especially the psych-friendly burst that initiates the final minute. “Open-Mindedness” is a stirring success from Aura Blaze, previously impressing with the track “The Sparkling Black.”
Stream the other two tracks on the EP below, another original in “The Summer Solstice” and a cover of The Charlatans’ “The Only One I Know”:
—
“Open-Mindedness” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of December 2021’ Spotify playlist.
