<p><span><span>- Since her first full length studio album release <em>Please be Mine</em> in 2018, Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Burch has leant further and further into her jazz roots, to much success. <em>Romantic Images </em>is Burch’s fourth album release, and a distinct revolution stylistically and sonically. Recorded with <strong>Tennis</strong>’ <strong>Alaina Moore </strong>and <strong>Pat Riley, </strong>Burch embraces their similarly '80's aesthetic, with bright synth pop beats.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>I’m calling <em>Honeymoon Phase </em>as this album’s sleeper hit now. Something about the build-up to the chorus feels so satisfying, with the subtle rhyming scheme leading up to the title drop feeling like a release of energy just in time for the beat to sit back just slightly into a more relaxed groove for the chorus. Lyrically, this track seems to embody the album’s mantra: “<em>That’s why we love nostalgia / It brings us back to loving</em>”. It’s a triumphant and liberating love song to life, with soft vocals echoing the sentiment: “<em>I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive</em>”.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Burch’s always stunning voice really shines on this album. <em>Control</em>, the first track and one of the lead singles, features creative runs in the verses that are so gorgeous, as well as technically impressive. It’s equal parts <strong>Kate Bush </strong>and <strong>Madonna</strong>, their influence obvious in the mix, but also in the way Burch expresses herself vocally and lyrically: “<em>All those times I didn’t mean it, can’t believe I tricked myself / I want you more than I want control.</em>” The video also hearks back to '80's aesthetics, with its bright pink and orange tones and decade-specific technology and fashion. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Every track from <em>Romantic </em>Images seems to have an overarching glow of warmth and nostalgia. Part of this is due to Burch’s own timeless and ethereal vocals, the influence of jazz singers <strong>Nina Simone </strong>and <strong>Billie Holiday</strong> shining through in her tone, despite the production being inspired by styles decades younger. There’s also a sense of confidence and self-assuredness in the song-writing itself, an immediacy derived from Burch's deliberate focus on live performance. <em>Romantic Images</em> is an album to be experienced, rather than just listened to.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Alison Paris.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4073056050/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="https://mollyburch.bandcamp.com/album/romantic-images">Romantic Images by Molly Burch</a></iframe>