Album Review/ Alt Folk : The Amanda Emblem Experiment’s ‘The Wod’

The Amanda Emblem Experiment is an exploration of sound in all its whimsy and artistic expression. The artist is not afraid to be led by her sound. No matter where it goes, she shows up to witness it in its wildest form. Or perhaps even at its most mundane moment. Bottling it into sweet numbers that you can grow into and experience for yourself, she is a promising musical progeny. Her latest release is ‘The Wood’ album, a collection that explores jazz with folk components, instrumentals and textures. It’s like watching a wildlife show. There’s so much exotic activity, naturalistic atmospheres and a freshness that elates you almost instantly. The collection contains eleven tracks, each one laying out its own distinct energy and artistic power. 

Opening with ‘Hanging Flute’, she inaugurates a gentle yet flighty flute performance. It lifts, falls, and floats away. With a lack of a lyrical quotient, it is like the wind; up for fluid interpretation. With melody lines hanging out, it presents like a conversation. The din at the neighborhood market. A familiarity yet a delightful strangeness. 

‘Clam Seas’ is an acoustic folk number. The melodies are fresh and glinting, shining between the artists sweeping vocals. In ‘Storm in my Life’, we see a folk-country seasoned pop. ‘The Wood’ is more rustic, more bare and baring. Doting on emotions, the vocals linger, swirling underneath, and thoughts lift off the canvas. Like a tangible presence floating in the space around you. For the title track, it feels personal, intimate, and vulnerable. It seals the connection between the artist and listener. 

‘Nananah’ follows. Underneath the simplicity of its acoustic is a muted chaos. The landscapes form, one feature at a time. The thoughts anchored to them. And the vast expanse just floating in front of you, yours to fill your eyes with.  ‘Stairs’ has a similar pace, a rhythm that seems both as a standstill and also as a place. 

‘Ancient Dingo’ is animated. Bobbing grooves, sweeping melodies and an expressive and very present vocal flow. It will most definitely have you moving and swaying. It’s one of those tracks that helps you feel through movement. We see a similar compositional pattern with ‘Thousands of Songs’. The theme is feel-good and uplifting. Active and springing to life like a childrens’ rhyme. 

‘Lazy Sunday Afternoon’ is a lulling country blues song that will validate all your slow and mellow moments. If ‘Hanging Flute’ was flighty and playful, ‘Hanging Rock’ is grounding. With its moody instrumentals, raspy vocals, and deeper flute planes, the song almost appears to me mystical. It would make the perfect soundtrack for a retro mystery movie or a novel. That invisible storyline flows underneath the song, teasing you, hiding from you, compelling you to invest yourself. The more you give, the more you get. Listen Now! 

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘The Wood’ by The Amanda Emblem Experiment here -