Album Review: Juana Everett - Past Lives in California

 

From its sumptuous dreamy greeting the new album by Juana Everett positions to thrill and shower the listener with multiple gifts. PAST LIVES IN CALIFORNIA is a decorative blend of aesthetic sounds focusing on a specific part of a long journey. Everett’s voyage of musical discovery left Madrid for the West Coast chimes of LA before seeking solace in the substantive music framework of Nashville. A sprinkling of euro vibes flavours a style shaped by the spirit of mild rock, indie Americana and higher planed alt-pop. With a strong team in place, the eleven tracks released on Spanish label Great Canyon Records meld into a fabulous introduction to a new name for many.

The vocals are soft centred with fiery offshoots gently assisted by a slither of steel and other finely constructed instrumental accompaniments. The themes are as stated on the tin and pan out with lyrical care dissecting memories, dreams and experiences. Collaborations kick in during the second phase of this 43 minute recording with Dylan Le Blanc dealing a lesson in compatible collaborative ease on ‘Whatever It Takes’ and Nicki Bluhm adding fine touches to climactic closer ‘What a Swell Party’. While this pair contribute a different dynamic, there are three other moments sharing the album’s pinnacle.

Opener ‘Bring Me Back’ was the grandest of introductions to Juana Everett when unveiled as a single earlier in the year. The fuse was lit for a highly anticipated album that has come to life nearly six months later. Pushing it to the limit is the ethereal grit of the earthy darker ‘One Million Dollars’ where a different shade is perfected. Later in the running order ‘The Janitor’ effectively catches the ear with a grungy guitar intro paving the way for a higher vocal pitch as the track truly explodes with a killer chorus wrapped in New Wave sensibility. 

Other key moments lie in a dip into the native tongue for ‘Donde Todo Se Queda’ where exotic trappings are set to piano in ballad mode and the alternative beat guiding ‘Under the Covers’ to leaving a hint of impressionable reggae. Another distinct shaping exists in the second song with ‘Roulette’ possessing a rockier outlook. 

The concluding trio are clustered around the centre of the album leading off with the gentler persuasive instinct of ‘Pinecrest’ shining a reflective light in tune with the overall identity. ‘Your Worst Enemy’ is a mid tempo offering shoring the core up with a degree of substance, while ‘Night Shift’ is a pit stop refuelling for an energetic listening engagement. 

PAST LIVES IN CALIFORNIA wears the heart of a nostalgic drift out west and is the ideal companion to a desire to wallow in the music fruits of reflection. Juana Everett coaxes a sonic bliss out of the components at her disposal. Cosy vibes infiltrate a wider landscape leaving an alluring listen navigating to receptive minds.