Britt White - Britt White

Britt White

Britt White
Predator Friendly Records; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Sean Dennison

Britt White's Britt White is the debut EP of none other than Britt White. The trio of songs was recorded entirely on one midi keyboard, which may seem confining but thanks to White's sense of melody and an ear for elegant composition, the EP becomes a commendable example of how to think inside the box and make it look like the outside.

"Moment" focuses on, well, the particular moment a treasured person calls our name, and uses fanciful string arrangements midway through the song to break up the delicate keyboard arrangements. White's voice is a good fit for this music, as gentle as the music itself, very pleasant and appropriate as we head into autumn. "Time Burier" is a more jocular number and again plays White's voice with the compositions to great effect, with more pronounced string samples, drawn out but bright, not melancholy. There is a large, unattractive gap of solitude toward the end of the song, and with music already so delicate that is not something you want. White dusts herself off toward the end, though, with muted variations of the song's previous moments, and then we end at "Bade to Ride."

The closing track is deeply surprising. For one, it's far shorter than the previous two tracks. For two, the mood is much starker, and while it's not depressing or sad or suffocating, there is a sense of waning in both the music and White's voice. It's the best song on the album, using flutes to sharpen the contours of the spaced piano notes. The flutes also do a nice job of attempting to match White's vocal range, as she sweetly sings, "I pour myself inside / but she just keeps biding me to ride."

Whatever you want to call her, don't call White meek. Not all confidence is displayed with gusto. Her serene vocals belie a surety that, admittedly, is not immediately apparent. Repeated listens reveal a woman with simple, clean ideas and the know-how to bring them to life. This is recommended, with a cup of hot chocolate and a warm pillow.

bandcamp

record label