“THE WOOD” By The Amanda Emblem Experiment

Structured with contemplation, narrative, and atmospheric folk-roots instrumental, the journey of Amanda Emblem’s fourth studio album, “The Wood,” is nothing short of pleasing. The album captures the singer’s feelings of closeness, reveling in nature, and life near land and water. Emblem’s “The Wood” includes works of slide guitar, fingerpicked guitar, delicate harmonica and flute, and soft, controlled production. Each of the album’s tracks portrays a different emotion, and they are cohesive in their exploration of the album’s diverse feelings. One such example is the soft bone-chiller track, “Hanging Flute.” Within the piece, the flute’s gentle harmonies, soft among their guitar and percussion counterparts, cohesively build the piece, guiding the listener to a gentle, captivating alpine valley. Emblem’s masterful portrayals of nature and internal peace are displayed in these moments, and throughout the album, displaying both a soft and powerful spirit, guiding listeners to revel in the sounds.

Next, “Calm Seas” fulfills one of the more elegant and sublime moments on the album. Even in the more distant reaches of the record, the finger-picking could be embraced as a warm texture. Drifting over secret waves, the riders would share tales of the burning sun and their carefree lives. Amanda's silken and self-assured tones soothe the listener as the album's subtle poetry works to envelop all in itssoft embrace. Throughout the tune, the record does a wonderful job recalling the romanticism that simplicity can master in unison with the natural elements of a tune. Next comes the album's initial single, “Storm in My Life,” which entirely resets the mood in a more forceful style. It is a tune which could be labelled folk-blues in its essence, underpinned by a bright lyrical hook with sprightly finger-picking and a polished, emotional, turbulence-controlled harmonica. Much like a breath of fresh, wild air, Amanda sings through the butterfly-filled, thunderous clouds of a storm, the latter's rainfall showering a relationship. It is a classic comparison, yet Amanda is intensely romantic and lyrical, which pulls the tune from being wholly spun and wispy. It has enough return and gentle throb to pulse in comfort, contrasting, yet harmonising, with the more gentle tracks. This is one of those songs, for its lyrical mood and rhythmic drive, that have golden opportunities in the record collection.

The title track “The Wood” may be the most emotional piece on the album. It is inspired by the artist’s very own graduation, struck by lightning and transformed into a guitar, a work of art for which the lightning-struck guitar is named Amanda. She ponders on the cycles of destruction and renewal, and the connection of the ethereal and tangible realms, the trees and the people. While the slide guitar and other accompanying instruments are mesmerizing, the crafted lyrics invoke a feeling of breath, calmness, and relaxation. Here, the cycle of nature’s and time’s small miracles and how it is interwoven with the gentle nature of the location is worshiped. It is the track to listen to with your heart rather than your ears. On the other hand, “Ancient Dingo” is darker, with the introduction of a reggae rock-like funk, more beaten and textured to offer something contrasted. It correlates with the interrelation of man and dingo on the South East coast, introducing a feeling that is more urgent and consequential. This part is also welcomed, reintroducing tension after the calm parts of the album. It is not an aggressive rock track, but it is still heavy after the gentle songs.

With the song “Lazy Sunday,” we return to groove, harmony, and the slide guitar. There is a kind of effortlessness to it, a leisure, a mere occupying of time and space, a luxuriating in the simple. It is so nice sewn into the tapestry of the album: after the more jagged “Ancient Dingo,” it helps the listener to relax. The vocal layers help to buoy the track, making it feel more collective, like a jam session around the fire, or a porch swing. Then there are Thousands of Songs with lead vocals by Kelly King, who also plays flute. She does not spoon the music; rather, it is a playful, almost burlesque-style show tune, oozing with winding vocal harmonies. It is most definitely, if not the most, one of the most ebullient moments on the album, almost as if it's celebratory. It goes to show that Amanda can step outside of a pure folk introspection to more varied musical ground. How music saves us all, as the song title goes, is still the case.

As a storyteller’s piece, “Nananah” is a sing-along and also reflective. It is about the questions we have regarding memory, regarding the first times we listened to original music, about identity, and the pleasure it brings us in the act of creation. There is an emotional warmth connected with memory and human connection. The tune is catchy. The words dip us into the story. “Together Feeling (The Captain)” reintroduces guitar fingerpicking. The ocean/river metaphors about journeying, leadership, and guidance are literal and figurative.  Invisibly. It is like floating downstream. It’s like the current and someone you trust is guiding you. It’s neutral yet hopeful,  the kind of song that leaves you with a feeling of a shared endless voyage. “Stairs” is the more melancholy track, comparing stairs that lead down to the beach with those in a city subway. It is subtle, the juxtaposition of city and nature, and Amanda’s muted tone here is particularly emotional. The construction is a continuous flow of emotional pressure, in a very gentle way, that never gets out of control. It remains within the confines of the album's subtle, yet potent power.

Like the opening track, the last track, “Hanging Rock,” the album feels as if there’s a reimagined sense of a beginning for its end. With the drowning feel of the aforementioned track, both share a reverb and mysterious tone, hinting in its last moments of a glimpse into the otherworldly and surreal. Closing, it leaves the audience with an afterthought of the missed words, the unheard, and the silence of the things to come. A kind of graceful pondering of silence. With a flowing concept, “The Wood” is metaphorically not overseen. The structure is crystal, with a soft leverage in the harmonica, flute, and slide guitar, allowing the instrument to take the floor without the need for an extravagant showcase. Set to an eased and playful attitude, Amanda’s voice is masked with faith and sweetness, able to bring the whole piece recap together. There's a soft chaos with the mid-flowing intercalation alongside free-standing melodies, and of energy with the still moments of internalized thought. The album, in its auto-telic structure, still traverses through an array of vibes and feels.

The record is also available on the World Wide Web and streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and perhaps on Bandcamp, as well as Amazon Music. On YouTube, users may watch videos or view lyric videos. On Spotify, the album helps fill curated folk/roots playlists. Everywhere, the storytelling and production shine through. “The Wood” is a deeply honest and emotionally evocative album. Its well-grounded and atmospheric disposition makes the album even more impressive. Amanda Emblem does not deliver a work that is laden with the most popular trends; rather, the album invites listeners and breathes reflections and feelings along with them. The seamless transitions between mystery and closure make the work a remarkable piece in her portfolio. The album also traverses the personal tempests of love, loss, and renewal, as well as the place, nature, and community. Kudos to Amanda June Emblem: this album is a testament to growth in artistry, shaped by embracing one's environment and a framework of patience, craft, and authenticity. The ability to conceptualize “The Wood” as an album beyond listening to is to offer a transformative experience: It is to offer a journey. For folk lovers, story lovers, and anyone seeking music with heart, soul, and space, this one deserves and will repay your full attention.

Written by Manuel