The British singer Flora Hibberd makes art pop that's both bold and quite accessible. The songs on her new record, Mammoth are easy to embrace for fans of stuff like Portishead and Echobelly. The production by Ben Lanz (Beirut) is another reason that this album works so well.
The stately opener "Bowling Ball" segues neatly into the lush "Silent Movie Baby", one of many tracks here which seems similar to those of Flora Hibberd's peer, The Anchoress. "Perfect Ripple" features Sufjan Stevens and the tune is layered and catchy, meaning it's more complex than most indie pop but it is also surprisingly radio-friendly. "Ache", another with Stevens, even anchors the tune with a clipped beat very reminiscent of "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God" from Hounds of Love (1985). While it's not so much a direct reference to Kate Bush, it's a nod to an earlier era when alternative music had more room for stuff like Flora Hibberd's brand of art pop.
Lots and lots of Mammoth is successful due to how well Hibberd's honeyed vocals mix with the deep production from Ben Lanz. There's a little bit in some of this that's haunting, and quite a lot more that's the very best kind of warm art rock. Fans of acts as disparate as PJ Harvey and Beth Orton should find parts of this very compelling.
Mammoth by Flora Hibberd is out now. Details below.
[Photo: Tchane]