Eclectic LA singer-songwriter strikes gold with lushly melodic country-disco-soul From Blue Monday to most of Robyn’s output, much of the finest electronic music has depicted clubbing’s existential 3am crises (as well as its moments of transcendence). It may not be ‘dance music’ in the modern sense, but
Pearl Charles’ second album
Magic Mirror is clearly the work of someone intimately acquainted with the messy emotions and heightened sensibilities of nights under the glitterball.
After years paying her dues playing old-time country, garage and psych-rock, this well-realised and beautifully produced collection meshes slinky soul and country melancholy, with a spangly disco undercarriage. The surprise is how well these elements fit together. Pearl’s lightly affecting vocals take full advantage of a plethora of great hooks and melodic ideas, and the kind of pithy lyrics country music is famous for (‘
Don t Let It Pass You By: Pearl Charles Interviewed How her soul-searching birthed one of 2021 s first truly essential albums.
My first memory of
Pearl Charles is tied up with a very surreal L.A. experience, involving Nastassja Kinskiâs daughter and a church hall in Eagle Rock. On certain Sundays, it becomes one of the worldâs best secret music venues.Â
After a bizarre improv performance by a local actor (itâs one of those places) out comes Pearl Charles, acoustic in hand, cowboy boots on, dressed like a player from Altmanâs Nashville. She seems a little shy or confused. The audience, still reeling from the performance before, have switched off and are headed to get a beer. But that all changes the moment Pearl sings.
Verdict: Pithy character studies
Rating:
The start of a new year is traditionally the time to pinpoint pop s up-and-coming names. And despite a pandemic that has wreaked havoc with the touring circuit and club scene, fresh voices are still making themselves heard, with live streams and new albums.
One rising star to watch is Los Angeles singer-songwriter Pearl Charles, whose second album, Magic Mirror, is a feelgood stroll through some classic American styles, including country-soul, 1960s pop and 1970s rock. Out today on independent label Kanine, it s a record to banish the blues.
Charles, 29, isn t a complete newcomer. The former music student cut her teeth with LA country duo The Driftwood Singers and drummed with garage-rock band The Blank Tapes before turning solo in 2012. She has since toured with Father John Misty and Best Coast, anchoring her music firmly in American indie rock.