Slow and haunting ambient-pop

Carla dal Forno has released her third studio album Come Around, which is the follow up to her 2019 project Look Up Sharp. Both albums are characterized by haunting vocals and dreamy production. It seems like her style is less focused on catchy choruses or flashy gimmicks and more aimed at creating a dark sonic landscape with very introspective lyrics. While this is mostly an effective tactic, many points in the album feel unmemorable since there is little focus on melody or instrumentation, as much as general aesthetic.

The opening track “Side by Side,” is a slow-moving and atmospheric track that appropriately gives the listener some insight to how the rest of the album will sound. Her minimalistic lyrics leave a lot of room for interpretation. Lyrics like “Ask me again / It’s in the air if you’re listening,” mixed with her manner of vocals make it feel like the song is being performed by a ghost.

The title track “Come Around,” is one of the more popular songs on the album, however, its sparse instrumentation keeps it from being a strong song. The lyrics feel repetitive, although they are very cryptic, which adds to the air of mystery surrounding the album. She sings, “And it’s not every day / That I’ll want you beside me here, and I’ll say / ‘Come over here and be around’.” Her indifference towards the subject that she sings about feels very out of place in pop music, but it fits very well with the aesthetic of the album.

The third track, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” highlights the intense floral imagery that is a constant theme throughout the record. She mentions “Omnivorous orchids,” that “cautiously wait,” and “hungrily loom.” She poetically takes something that is usually associated with beauty, and makes it into something dark and ominous. This is one of the better tracks on the album, but it is once again held back by having focused too much on the atmosphere and vibe instead of the more straightforward qualities that would make it a more enjoyable listen.

Tracks like “Autumn” and “Deep Sleep” serve as instrumental interludes, however they feel very underdeveloped and could have been stronger if they had more distinct melodies. The main problem with the instrumentation throughout the record is that it is not very reflective of the ‘nature-oriented’ theme of the album. The album would have felt more cohesive if dal Forno had opted for a more acoustic sound – something that could have enhanced the album and made it feel even more haunting.

Overall Come Around is mysterious and at points it can be very beautiful. However, the fixation on curating such a strong sonic atmosphere was not very well balanced with the formal qualities of songwriting that make for an attractive album. It is an album that is enjoyable to listen to, but it does not have a high replay value.