Gretel “Squish”

Like so much good music, we were introduced to Gretel by BBC 6 Music who have been giving a fair amount of airplay to her singles. We were therefore eagerly awaiting the release of this album. That was especially true when we saw it being described as “a record born from gothic fairytales, girlhood and survival”.

The album opens with the title track “Squish” which begins as a slow intimate ballad before erupting into a fantastic grunge pop track. It’s a style which is repeated on songs like” Fire Blooming Trees” and “UnBloom”. They are equal parts melody and jarring guitars that seduce you in whilst still hitting hard. The album reaches a bit of an early peak with the sublime “Maybelline” which sounds like a long lost grunge pop classic.

What we really love about this album is the sense of theatre and drama on songs like “Darkness Be My Friend” and “Witch Hunt”. Almost inevitably that has us recalling our love for The Last Dinner Party and the sense of occasion they bring to their music. Although, of course, that then invites the extension of the comparisons to the grandeur of Florence and The Machine on a song like “Oh Well” or Kate Bush on “Laurali”.

Despite those comparisons, there is still plenty that is unique about Gretel. She allows the album to move from the slow and witty ballad “Drunk On The Ballroom Floor” to the electro indie pop of “Pick Your Heart Up” and then through to the almost pure pop rock of “Nervous Driver”. And that’s before the whole thing comes to a triumphant end with the brilliant “The Perfect Body”. A song which could be a huge hit.

This is a really great album which encapsulates a diverse set of sounds and influences. We really loved the fact that it brings a real sense of the theatrical, whilst retaining a sly wit throughout. It’s at odds to much music released today, where really you need to listen to it as a full body of work. Sure, there are still songs you can put on your playlist but it really demands to be given the respect of listening to it as a whole album.