Demigold is the stirring solo debut of Sunna Corona, a project born from creative momentum amidst personal loss. Adopting a lo-fi, multi-instrumentalist approach, the album bridges the high-energy grit of ’90s DC-scene icons like Fugazi with the ethereal, twangy jangle of classic folk-rock and modern dream-pop. By weaving the sprawling guitar radiance of Steve Gunn with serene, Clientele-esque vocal layers, Sunna Corona transforms isolated homemade recordings into something expansive and wholly enjoyable.
“So Glad You Made It” commences the album with captivating flair, its brisk acoustic strums and twinkling keys crafting a dreamy entrancement as serene vocals arrive. “Don’t give them the satisfaction,” serene layers exude, fondly reminiscent of The Clientele in their subdued yet impactful charm. Bolstered guitar twanging and fluttering keys converge blissfully as the three-minute turn approaches; the opener is a dazzling success that sets the album in beautiful motion. The ensuing “Mercury Message” is similarly resonating, melding bursting guitar jangles and frolicking strums alongside wondrous, contemplative vocals.
An especially resonating success, “Mindreader” glides with shimmering, melodically dazed appeal. The track retains the dreamy, twangy tones and lush vocal pleasantries of preceding tracks, though here also embracing a free-flowing guitar radiance with hints of Steve Gunn’s eclectic guitar work, with even shades of Allman Brothers’ throwback grooves and Fleet Foxes’ ethereal vocal allure; in all it’s a fantastic track that feels like a blend of various greats, combined with Sunna Corona’s knack for satiating send-offs — on “Mindreader” hitting especially hard during the concluding title-bearing refrain.
“On the Ropes” arrives next, casting an immediately enveloping dream-pop glow in its shining organs and mellow guitar stylings. Shaking rhythmic elements and yearning vocal sentiments move especially well past the one-minute mark, culminating in the “here in the afterglow” apt description. A final push of wordless vocals delivers a spine-tingling effect, finalizing a truly magnetic track. Demigold compels in both ardent rockers like “Mercury Message” and more understated, lushly absorbing journeys such as “On the Ropes.”
The album’s title track is another gem, representing one of the album’s more consistently energetic moments. Shimmering guitars and a thumping rhythm section appear immediately, the ethereal “took a piece of the pie” vocal pushes enamoring amidst the escalating structural build. Fervent doses of guitar pair with an enthused vocal ascent as the one-minute mark hits, reminding enjoyably there of Smith Westerns in its infectious harmoniousness. Album finale “Sing Along” concludes it all in masterful form. A piano-forward push and lyrical references to a “reckoning” traverse with a starry-eyed, cinematic enjoyment, with hints of The Walkmen. And as a final reminder of the act’s range, the track concludes seamlessly with pulses of melodic, bursting guitars. Sunna Corona’s Demigold is a fantastic overall listening experience.
Demigold is set to release this spring.
