Formerly going by Corinna Rose, Gulkin reverts to her actual name for her second album because of, she says, the highly personal nature of the material. It's a collection of eight songs that deal with an abusive relationship and her own growth after. While the subject matter is intense, the presentation is more other-worldly, or at least semi-conscious, both aurally and at many points in the story. She observes the partner asleep at the start, and sleep figures in a few of the tracks. She's pushed the abuse down so it's denied, part of a different reality, not the one on display. "Silent stoics, they tuned it out, and pushed it down, down," we're told in "Under The Covers", then "I know I would kill if I could just wake up."
The dreamscape music is a remarkable, gentle folk blend featuring a trio of harp, electric guitar and banjo, then layered with synth effects. Again, like the lyrics, it often builds to a quiet intensity, never jarring but a little unnerving if you're listening close. Gulkin uses close, soft vocals, sometimes without a clear melody, a bit like Julie Doiron's quiet material. Matched against the unique tones of banjo meeting harp, the effect is powerful in its beauty. When she sings "I forgave but I can't forget", after meeting in "The Room", it's a stunning conclusion.
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