Bloomsday – ‘Heart of the Artichoke’ album review: a featherlight ode to love, loss, and self-discovery
THE SKINNY: Not much has changed for Bloomsday since 2022 except everything—the soft and calculated acoustic deliberations of Place to Land seem very much a first port-of-call with the benefit of hindsight. Its gorgeous relaxations permeate Heart of the Artichoke but with added depth and even more accomplishment, resulting in a featherlight but deeply immersive experience.
Heart of the Artichoke, for all intents and purposes, be cut into two halves; the first is singer Iris James Garrison getting into the swing of things and almost relying on their earlier debut a little too much. As the record plays out, however, it’s clear that this is no longer their first go at it, and everything comes into focus in a way that can only be compared to the climactic embers of a firework display.
Part of the joy of keeping a close eye on Garrison as they continue to accrue much-deserved popularity is observing and pocketing all of their added nuances like a strange coin collection: the focus is almost on their vocal delivery—as it should be, their voice could melt butter—but within Heart of the Artichoke, the arrangements appear crisper, more like delicately placed petals rather than mere accompaniment.
It also shrouds any sense of claustrophobia: the guitar work is seamless, and Garrison delivers effortless crooning, but it all arrives in a way that allows the listener to occupy the same space, moulding and shaping the sounds as you please. It’s cute, but even that word seems reductive because there’s a weight behind Heart of the Artichoke that gives it all the force of the next rising star.
For fans of: Meeting friends for a morning coffee rather than a pint at the local pub.
A concluding comment from my brother: “This sounds like a nice tight bear hug, but after a while, I’m like ‘get off me’.”
Bloomsday – Heart of the Artichoke track by track
Release Date: June 7th | Producer: Ryan Albert | Label: Bayonet
‘Where I End and You Begin‘: This song feels like looking at your younger self in the mirror, but it’s difficult to figure out why. Perhaps it’s the nostalgic feel of the chord progression and the ways it seems like a much-needed moment of self-reflection. Either way, it’s deeply relaxing while still loosely thought-provoking. [3/5]
‘Virtual Hug‘: A staple of Bloomsday’s live sets, ‘Virtual Hug’ has taken on a life of its own, and it’s easy to see why. Its guitar almost has a tangible movement to it, while Garrison’s vocal tends to the most tender aspects of your mind, allowing you the choice of self-reflection or mindless dancing. Or both. [3/5]
‘Dollar Slice‘: One of the standouts of the entire album, ‘Dollar Slice’ might just be a visceral version of experiencing the New York skyline. Although written with the idea of some sort of higher power in mind, the whole song feels overwhelming but in an endearing way, almost like those moments you catch yourself looking out at a desolate sunset, wondering whether you’re deeply broken or the happiest you’ve ever been. [4/5]
‘Artichoke‘: We’ve all known someone we think of later in life, wondering whether we knew the real them or not. In ‘Artichoke’, Garrison peels back the layers to see someone for who they really are. It’s blissful, almost innocent-sounding, like you’re young again and mystifying someone you greatly admire. [3/5]
‘Bumper Sticker‘: Sometimes, it seems a cop-out to label something “the perfect driving song”, but when it actually rings true, it’s quite powerful. ‘Bumper Sticker’, despite its namesake, feels akin to a long stretch of road when it’s too early for anyone else to be around just yet. [3/5]
‘Night Swim‘: Although many of Bloomsday’s songs are relatively simplistic sonically, you often don’t really know what direction each piece is going to take you in. ‘Night Swim’ starts off with a melancholy sheen and branches out into something more ethereal, the kind that reaches deep into your soul. [4/5]
‘Carefully‘: If you ever do any talking therapies, you’ll likely encounter a method that encourages the use of the 5-4-3-2-1 strategy. This tapping into your various senses feels like the start of ‘Carefully’ as we hear a sigh along with bird sounds, prompting internal deliberation. It’s one of the most gorgeous parts of the album and a song that really shows off Garrison’s talent not only as a singer but also as someone who can create deeply immersive soundscapes on voice alone. [4/5]
‘Look After‘: Another moment of respite, ‘Look After’ gives you space to continue the introspective journey the album has worked hard to encourage, resulting in a track that could either bore you a little too much or make your worries suddenly feel completely combattable. [3/5]
‘Object Permanence‘: While most of the album demonstrates Garrison’s vocal prowess, ‘Object Permanence’ feels reminiscent of the echoey reverb of some of the songs on Place to Land, with an added maturity that only comes with a second album. [3/5]
‘Old Friend‘: This song builds like a secret, Garrison’s voice almost like a whisper in your ear, while the guitar reverberates around her delicate crooning like a luscious glaze. [3.5/5]
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