The purpose built next generation interstellar Dawn Richard thread

Agreed, I stopped listening to the first movement because I was anticipating the album so much. Glad I waited. It's best taken as a whole, and it's wonderful.

Made me check out Sunday Painter by Zahn, which is also exquisite.

took me a few listens to notice how amazing Umber is

is it philistine to wish the vocals were a bit less treated

still this is very good

I feel the same about the vocal treatments. On the other hand, a more naturalistic treatment would further expose some of the lyrical weaknesses.

The vocals are very much part of the wash of sound, as on the Cocteau's Victorialand (in particular).

more background on the dozen things she's doing (a food truck?)
https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/musician-and-multimedia-artist-dawn-richard-on-creating-opportunities-for-yourself-and-others/

new single/twerk anthem "Bubblegum"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyTq_9GdUA

oh hellllll yeah

I like those apparent "sell-outs" where the aloofness and left-field sounds keep the supposed hit song in its own elusive territory. Like creating a bridge and creating gaps at the same time. It's very credible. Retains her "aquatic" sound.
Only critique is that it's a bit over in an instant.

i am *really* enjoying this.

Dawn was great at the PopCon keynote, BTW; had a chance to chat with her almost by accident beforehand. A personable soul.

Uh...nobody posted this yet?

https://dawnrichard.bandcamp.com/album/the-architect

I'm listening to Goldenheart for the first time in a long time. Still holds up!

What else is worth hearing (and/or avoiding) in her discography? I haven't kept up with any releases since Goldenheart, including the jump to Merge Records.

Goldenheart is the one I would tell people to avoid, so not sure how valuable this will be to you. But I would simply proceed chronologically from there: Blackheart, Redemption, new breed, Second Line. I wouldn't avoid any of them, though Blackheart is probably my favourite

Haha I agree with all of that - Goldenheart is the one that feels most like a slog even though it has some fantastic individual moments. Blackheart is in many ways further out but it's better structured and sequenced. Then everything after that is a much easier listen though I don't think she has ever surprised as much again (at least until Pigments anyway) - this isn't really a criticism, there's very few artists who could maintain the kind of outward-expansion-trajectory which Dawn managed in the four years from early 2011 to early 2015.