A sister outfit from Indianapolis, Lily & Madeleine on their fifth album continue their retro-folk ideas that don’t shy away from pop and rock with much sophistication and playfulness, too.
The pair open the listen with the graceful piano and soft guitar of “Windowless Bedroom,” where the cozy vocal harmonies and intimate climate welcomes stirring strings. “Rolling Rock” then follows, and pairs the sublime keys and moody cello while not shying away from some pop crunch, and “No Part Of Me” continues the creativity with strong attention to atmosphere via the highly dreamy fashion.
In the middle, the very gentle and soulful “Cologne” pairs synthetic drumming with powerful singing from the siblings, while the title track brings more guitars to the chilling album highlight that’s both ominous and pretty.
Side B begins with the folk-friendly strumming of “Ocean Ave,” where gorgeous singing and a slight jangle help make this one of the brightest tracks, but “Good Things” is a close second with its punchy drumming and mysterious flashes that rely on more rock-focused ideas. The acutely careful listen exits with the sincere and lushly textured “Lost Boys,” that’s as sweet as it is cathartic.
It’s not difficult to think of Feist, Beck and Lykke Li when listening to Nite Swim, and the pair move seamlessly from waltzes to groove-packed moments that lyrically surround vulnerability, acceptance, shame and loneliness. Though they’re still quite young, the sisters have been active songwriters since their teens, and whether this is your first listen or you’ve been following all along, it’s pretty hard not to agree that Lily & Madeleine are two of the most radiant voices in today’s folk-pop scene, especially when it comes to songs about transitioning into adulthood.
