Returning with her fourth album is New Zealand’s very own Miriam Clancy. Arriving with a hauntingly emotional, passionate, and personable diary you can sing along to with her LP Black Heart, debuting January 20th.
Black Heart quietly starts with the heartbreaking lullaby “Cassowary.” This track offers a hauntingly deep message, sung by the voice of a fairytale princess, accompanied by an understated acoustic guitar melody. Next is title track “Black Heart,” an equally passionate tale that will leave the lyric “Who will love you now…” echoing in your ears. Track three, “Head Like A Hole,” offers the rise and fall of lyrics and melody to match the undulating emotions.
Making your way into track four you are transported into a dim lit piano lounge with “Roelof.” With lyrics that beautifully narrate a story of romance and heartbreak, this song provides an incredible cinematic visual to any listener. Like a melodic-rebound, we go from heartbreak to infatuation, with track five, “Feels Like Heaven.” The lower octave vocals and supporting melody are reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, in all the best ways.
Next, we time-travel to the renaissance and arrive at “Death Becomes The Maiden,” a tale of modern love seemingly told from another century. Picking up the pace we are treated to “Kamakazi Angels,” which features a strong chorus and guitar power-chords, solidifying this track as the rock ballad of the album.
Featured single “Velveteen” asserts itself as track eight on the album. Powerful, emotional and raw, Miriam describes looking back at her childhood abuse and neglect while crying into the keys of her piano as she wrote this incredibly personal song that she views are her own manifesto. Next up is “True-ish Love,” and there is no “ish” about the very true feelings and emotions behind this song of pain and longing.
“We Become The Night,” rolls in as track ten, offering powerful vocals and a strong message of unity. Concluding the album is “Guide For All Humankind,” a poetic song with the simplistic beauty of just the vocals and a piano. A beautiful way to end such a heartfelt album.
Be sure to check out Black Heart for yourself January 20th.
Black Heart track list:
1. Cassowary
2. Black Heart
3. Head Like A Hole
4. Roelof
5. Feels Like Heaven
6. Death Becomes The Maiden
7. Kamikaze Angels
8. Velveteen
9. True-ish Love
10. We Become The Night
11. Guide For All Humankind
