Echoes are usually a symptom of distance, a sign of distortion, but Thayer Sarrano uses echoes to signify intimacy, to show that even microscopic rifts can become canyons when they are etched into a human heart. Shaky is the Athens-based artist’s third solo LP, but she has been honing her craft for over 10 years now, with everyone from T. Hardy Morris to Of Montreal. This is Sarrano’s strongest album to date, precisely because of the way in which she displays her vulnerability. Though her sorrow and struggle are intensely personal, they’re still accessible and relatable. With uncanny confidence, she leads us through her wild landscape, punctuating each vista with her own personal truths, which stand out in sharp relief to a world filled with confusion. As we walk through the dusty streets of her mind, we are likely to catch distorted glimpses of Chelsea Wolfe, Feist, and PJ Harvey in the folds of her dark, psychedelic Americana.
Throughout the album, Sarrano perfects a sound which is both delicate and rich. She played most of the instruments on the record and decided to scrap the studio versions of her vocals for reverb-heavy tracks she recorded in her living room. She uses a deep pulsing synth line and jagged, delayed guitar to craft a framework that can hold her wide variety of percussive elements. But she balances these lavish elements with simple acoustic guitar and leaves ample space for each instrument to breathe.
Throughout each song, Sarrano tenderly deconstructs her feelings and uses the pieces to craft a narrative through which she journeys to find healing. As a result, the unique identity of each song blends into a greater whole as Shaky progresses. The record begins and ends with two of the most atmospheric pieces Sarrano has ever written. Both “How Can I Wait” and “Hide My Health” drown the listener in urgent yet steady synth lines, but whereas the former is a heavy song which sinks into itself, “Hide My Health” is an airy track that flows into an everlasting future long after the last note fades. Despite the inauspicious instrumentation of the introductory track, Sarrano quickly inundates the listener with bold orchestration. Meanwhile, the wailing guitar and syncopated beat of the title track is eerily playful, and the next track, “Thieves,” is a soaring anthem that lures you in with its captivating melodies.
But it’s the mid-album track, “A Quiet State of Panic,” that forms the pinnacle of the LP. Sarrano communicates her uncertainty with startling honesty as she searches through her past for any memory she can use as a foundation to face the future. The pulsing string section gives weight to a song so fragile and wispy that, like Sarrano’s memories, seems apt to disappear at any moment. Yet, with the final chord she seems to grasp something indeterminable but solid. Like pulling a scab off your arm only to find someone else’s flesh beneath, Sarrano’s vulnerability on this track and the rest of Shaky is enhanced by a confusion easily understood by anyone who has experienced deep loss and heartbreak. However, the clarity amid chaos is what pulls the listener into Sarrano’s dark but tender hymns.
Despite the feeling that Sarrano is sharing cosmic truths on this album, there is no final catharsis. There exists only moments of light and darkness which come hand in hand, sewn to her soul. But as Sarrano guides us through this echoey expanse, she shows us that her desert is not a wasteland, and there is beauty in the darkest of journeys.
Shaky is out tomorrow and will be available via iTunes.
More Info
Web: thayersarrano.com
Bandcamp: thayersarrano.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @thayersarrano
Instagram: @thayersarrano
SoundCloud: @thayersarrano
Twitter: @thayersarrano