Review: "Alur" EP by Maroney
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Fully incorporating a sense of space within his airy compositions, Maroney brings together the ancient and the new on the gorgeous “Alur” EP. Symphonic sweeps adorn these pieces for they have a pastoral beauty behind them. His direct vocals opt for an intimacy of sorts, fully supported by the lilting melodies that adorn the entirety of the journey.
Electronic, folk, art pop, all of this effortlessly blends together in a way that feels uniquely Maroney’s. Tremendous color pours out of these pieces, referencing chamber pop like A Badly Drawn Boy as much as Moses Sumney’s thought-provoking explorations of relationships. Layer upon layer filters into the mix giving it a kaleidoscopic, at times even surreal sense of dreaminess.
A rural psychedelic atmosphere ties the entirety of the work together. Best taken together as a singular whole, the way the tracks interact makes them akin to chapters in a greater story. This approach is best exemplified in the way that the lyrics glide through. His delivery is full of a tremendous heartfelt spirit. Growing ever more expansive the usage of carefully curated choirs and such instrumental depth ensures that the journey unfurls in lush ebbs and flows. Poetry informs not only the lyrics but the tactile sensibility that allows the rhythms to have their own emotion sort of base.
Upon the short introduce of “Alur – Orchestral Reprise” things begin in earnest on the tremendous title track “Alur”. The way the field recordings weave into the mix further lends it a breathing, living quality. By letting things occasionally strip down to the essentials, the piece serves as the true highlight of the entire EP. This closeness continues on the breathy work of “Home (What You’ve Given Me)” where they opt for the pure essentials, allowing the piece to evolve in a naturalistic way.
Gentle vocals define the fragile delicacy of “Violet’s Alur”. On “Skin” featuring Obin, Jorge, Natalie, Jackson, etc, the entirety of the EP comes to a fantastic finale, for the vocals run through with a hint of giddiness. Maroney proves to be an impressive sculptor of sound on the warm, sunny, and optimistic “Alur EP”.