Mary Epworth - Elytral

The Guardian 60

(Sunday Best)

Daunted by writing the follow-up to her feted 2012 psych-pop debut Dream Life, Mary Epworth (sister to producer Paul) decided to set herself free to play without limits. The result is starkly different, a more austere, violent electronic soundworld, opening with the dark, low-synth arpeggios of Gone Rogue, punctuated by outbursts of raw sax. Beyond the poppy bounce of Stereolab-ish lead single Me Swimming and the romping, krautrocky pulse of Burned It Down, Elytral lacks the sort of direction or structure that linger in the mind, but has a delightful exploratory freedom, as seen in the sweet, warm analogue ambience of Surprise Yourself: “No judgment, no fear”.