MAUD THE MOTH

Orphnē MÚSICA MÁXICA

Elegantly wrought excursions into Greek myth and womanhood

The third album from talented vocalist and multiinstrumentalist Amaya López-carromero explores Greek mythology via modern thoughts on what it means to be a woman.

The album is carefully hewn, richly textured and demonstrates a scholarly depth of knowledge, drawing from jazz and classical traditions with its graceful strings, quicksilver piano motifs and some tasteful guitar courtesy of Barshasketh’s Guillaume Martin. While not as heavy – sonically or emotionally – as other modern genresplicers operating in the same rough space (Anna von Hausswolff, say) there’s a definite sense of darkness running through Orphnē, and López-carromero’s capacity for seamlessly transitioning from light and jaunty to truly glowering never fails to impress. The range, deftness and outré worldview often bring to mind Tori Amos – albeit a strange, gothier, parallel universe incarnation who’s a creative sparring partner for Edgar Allan Poe rather than Neil Gaiman.

FOR FANS OF: Jarboe, Tori Amos, Chelsea Wolfe

■■■■■■■■■■ ALEX DELLER