California-based artist Tamar Berk immerses with new single “stay close by,” which incorporates a warming alt-rock ’90s nostalgia amidst lyrical sentiments of “hopeful optimism that hasn’t quite panned out yet,” per Berk. The standout track, released today, comes via her upcoming album OCD. Out on September 5th, Berk’s fifth full-length melds memorable rock and dream-pop synergy within a sense of personal catharsis. “I called it OCD because I live in loops. I overthink everything. But this record helped me make a little bit of beautiful sense out of that,” Berk explains.
“stay close by” develops with enjoyably atmospheric rock appeal. Fuzzy, textured guitars drive to dreamy vocal admissions of indecision: “I don’t know why I can’t reply on time, or can’t make up my mind.” Yearning for a “momentary break” continues, conveying a hopeful optimism in the “be all right, if you stay close by” ascending vocal entrancement thereafter.
The woozy vocal tone — beckoning to “go for a ride” — melds with swelling guitars, which attain a more invigorating feeling upon the percussive uptick in the second series of verses. The result is a nostalgic aesthetical success, with shades of Slowdive and Mazzy Star, that captivates in its melodic charm and relatable themes of hoping for the best, even if those brighter days haven’t come yet to fruition.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
