Photo by Lillie Eiger

Avalon Emerson has a busy road ahead of her, opening of the likes of everyone from Snail Mail to Fcukers and Robyn in the coming months behind the release of her just-released and excellent new album with the Charm, Written into Changes. For a musician who has easily satiated dance and electronic revelers through her DJ kicks, the switch-up to guitar-pop has been an interesting challenge for the ear to witness. It’s in good hands with her nonetheless, as it especially hits everything you could want in an indie-pop song on the album highlight “Country Mouse”.

The energy here isn’t very different than that of a late night rave scene, though Emerson need in this instance channel a panic attack to bring it up to that level, with scintillating guitars blearing neon in their Phoenix flux through the fast lane while programmed drums and blood-pumping basslines pulsate through. That’s okay, because it’s all love in the heart that makes the trip worthwhile. “I’ll hold your hand, I’ll be your man / When I can.” She’s got a grip on the guitar-pop form, at that, too.

Edited by: Nick Scott

Avalon Emerson & the Charm’s Written Into Changes is available now on Dead Oceans.