An inventive art-rock immersion stirs throughout Never Coming Home, the new album from Michal Gutman. The artist’s debut solo album follows a decade of tours and releases with her band Whaling Snails. The result is captivating, ranging from the compellingly spacious intrigue of “Running out of luck” to the heavier-rock composure within “Pigeon Hunt.”
A compelling album opener, “Architecture” expands from quaint guitar reflections into a dreamy expanse. “I never want to forget,” the engaging vocals let out amidst calming bass pulses and glistening guitar twangs. References to “forests and valleys and birds,” further invoke a natural, organic flow — unfolding with a seamless cohesion. The rhythms fade and a piano-set intrigue takes hold at mid-point, showcasing Gutman’s knack for grippingly eclectic structural twists, enjoyably apparent throughout Never Coming Home.
Another album highlight, “Pigeon Hunt” presents a more immediate onslaught of thick rhythmic reverberations and distorted, grimy guitar tones. Haunting, wordless vocal howls add to the ominous soundscape, full of climactic engrossment, from the heavier moments to the serene folk-laden “feel like a knife/blade,” sequence. “A Second Plan” impresses in the most patiently unfolding realm, expanding with spacey resonance into a darkly intoxicating push of guitars. Never Coming Home is a standout showing from Michal Gutman.
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“Architecture” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
