Commanding, delicate, endearing... Odell's voice weaves melodically in & out of arrangements like a darting fish in shimmering sunlit waters. At a moment's notice, she folds prayerfully in like a flower closing at dusk. Then she rushes forth like chorus of color trumpeting into the air. A master of her craft already, I put her on par with modern contemporaries Feist, Aldous, & Adrianne, but with a lyrical levity & playfulness akin to Banhart or Heynderickx. Can't wait to see her next move.

Hushed whisper, raging dissonance, swooning melody... The Soil & The Sun become more intentional, more powerful, and more humbling each album. On Meridian, a growing use of digital soundscapes and effects complement their previous mastery of wood, wire and air instrumentation. Lyrically, the group continues with their prophetic substance under an approachable veil. Alex and co. call out evil by name on "Samyaza," beg for peace on "How Long,"and bring the listener to joy in mystery on "Are You?"

Perhaps the best rock record of 2015. That may make me sound like an idiot... but I mean it.