An enchanting album meshing chamber-pop whimsy with nostalgic nursery rhymes, Maxim is a stellar release from Drew Worthley and No Spinoza. The album opens with a take on one of the most popular of them all, “Three Blind Mice.” A great, accessible showcase of the sound to anticipate throughout the album, “Three Blind Mice” is bolstered by escalating orchestral adornments and vibrant piano, complementing a vocal lead that straddles calm lushness and hooky vigor. “Have you ever seen such a thing in your life?” the vocals ask amidst the spell-binding piano progression; in the case of the album itself, I’ve never heard anything quite like it, no.
Drew Worthley and No Spinoza conjure a particularly majestic version of “Doctor Foster,” the climactic initial bustle and vocal uneasiness leading into a haunting string arrangement. “Never went there again,” the vocals admit through twinkling keys, as plucked strings join prior to expressive backing vocal reflections. From these successes, to the folk-forward “Hey Diddle Diddle” and dreamy “Pat-a-Cake,” Maxim engages with charming songwriting and uniquely powerful production.
Stream the excellent Maxim below:
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“Doctor Foster” and others featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of March 2022’ Spotify playlist.
