Avalon Emerson & The Charm “Written Into Changes”

We’re ashamed to admit that Avalon Emerson is a new name to us. But to those of you who are keen followers of dance/club music you will know she has a huge following as an International DJ. However, even those fans of her DJing may not be familiar with the music she produces. This is actually her second album with The Charm but we were introduced to her by hearing her singles being played on BBC 6 Music.

The album opens with those singles. The first is the dreamy “Eden” which appropriately has a warm and comforting sound with a pop edge. It’s followed up by the sublime “Jupiter and Mars” a candidate for single of the year for us. This is a great indie pop record with a melody that just pulls you right into the song.

It’s not until “Happy Birthday” that you really get a feel for the dance/DJ influences. That comes across through the underlying beat and more electronic sound. It’s a similar thing with tracks like “Wooden Star” and “God Damn (Finito)” which have an almost Saint Etienne type sound. Like that band, she manages to combine an indie pop style but with a dance feel. It’s as much about the way the songs build to a crescendo as anything else. They’re tracks you can see appealing in festival fields as well as dark clubs. The title track “Written Into Changes” is similar but has a dreamier and more laid back feel to it.

We get another album highlight in the shape of “How Dare This Beer” which, with the breathy vocals, see us moving back towards the indie songwriter vibe of the singles. It perfectly builds into an engaging track that feels ideal for pool side drinking. The pace then picks up with “Country Mouse”, a track which demonstrates the mix of sounds and influences that we might expect from a DJ. The album then comes to an end similarly to how it started. “Earth Alive” has a laid back vibe that just slowly carries you away.

This album certainly ended up being a pleasant surprise and is a brilliant sidestep from Avalon Emerson’s DJ work. Whilst it may seem a long way off yet, we think we may have already found the perfect soundtrack to our summer!