- “Silver Thread Lullaby (Introduction)” (0:55)
Floral Portrait’s self-titled album starts off with a fifty-five-second intro, setting the tone for the album. I’d hardly call it a song. It’s more of a sound bite to let listeners know what kind of album they’ll be listening to. It starts with the mysterious sound of footsteps, and then the sound of a music box begins to play. It’s intriguing and makes you want to listen more.
- “Clarissa” – 7/10 (3:10)
The second song in the album begins with a playful sound, accompanied by more depressing lyrics. The narrator is longing for “Clarissa,” whom he is no longer with, “I long once more to see you; memories set on repeat.” The lyrics paired with the upbeat and romantic music create a funny juxtaposition. It feels as if the artist made the song for a movie scene. I wouldn’t say this is a song someone would listen to for pleasure, but it sounds like it belongs on an independent film soundtrack.
- “Winter Isolation” – 8/10 (2:19)
“Winter Isolation” starts off with beautiful instrumentals. There’s a mix of soft wind instruments and percussion. Similar to the previous song, it feels like it would be the background music to a montage. It has a very particular mood to it. It’s not a sad song, but it feels contemplative. Towards the end, there are some brief vocals, “I won’t break for you. Never, no never.” It may not be a hit on the radio, but it is a very relaxing and well-put-together song.
- “Rain & Vale” (1:36)
As the title states, the song begins with the sound of rainfall. The sound of the music box starts to come in slowly with the rain, and it sounds slightly distorted at times. There are no lyrics, and the song is a short one minute and thirty-six seconds. Like the introduction of Floral Portrait, it’s hard to count this as a full song. It serves as a transition between the longer pieces of the album.
- “Spectacle in Paisley Park” – 6/10 (3:02)
“Spectacle in Paisley Park” pushes the story along. At this point in the album, the theme of heartbreak is evident. This song does a wonderful job of representing that moment of paralyzation in heartbreak, “I could not say what she felt that day, she was far away. I just looked on out my window.” The melody does have a daunting sound to it. It has a build-up throughout the song where the music gets more intense until the vocals suddenly stop. Eventually, there are only horror-movie-like sound effects, and screeching and distressed string instruments. Then the regular melody resumes again. It’s safe to say the artist did not have the radio in mind when writing this song. The intent was to have something artful rather than catchy, and the band has captured that well with this song.
- “Portrait of E” – 6.5/10 (3:56)
“Portrait of E” ‘s lyrics demonstrate the level of thought that has gone into the song and the album in general. The lyrics are dramatized, romantic, and specific. They give the listener a very detailed look into the story the artist is telling which is exactly what you want. The music has a quirky sound to it. It sounds stressful while trying to give the impression that it’s upbeat. Again, it isn’t the catchiest song, but it certainly tells a story.
- “Sunset Stroll” – 6/10 (3:03)
By far, “Sunset Stroll” is the most genuinely happy and relaxed song on the album. A new instrumental sound is introduced, the bongo drums, signaling a new beginning of some kind. No lyrics, but it serves as another transition to the next stage of the album.
- “Waves” – 9/10 (3:15)
What a beautiful song. “Waves” takes first place on the album. The piano, violin, and guitar create such a perfect symphony of sounds. It’s incredibly romantic, and the soft vocals deliver the lyrics, “We’re never gonna love the way we used to, but no one’s here to tell us that we have to change.” The lyrics are sad and reassuring at the same time and the music reflects that wonderfully. This may be the only song appropriate for the radio. I recommend everyone give this song a listen.
- “Vale & Variations” (0:44)
In another transition song, the music box is the only sound and it’s constantly distorted. It feels like moving through time, but in which direction? I’m not sure.
- “Silver Thread Lullaby” – 7/10 (3:04)
The last song of the album feels like the resolution scene of a movie. The artist sings the perfect lyric to sum the story up, “Winter’s almost gone at last. Things that make us weep have passed.” The melody is very plain and simple, but it’s sweet. Towards the end, the distorted music box begins to play, and we finish with the sound of footsteps.
The Review: Floral Portrait – 7.5/10
The first thing I have to say is that this album needs to be the soundtrack for a movie. It’s not what most albums may sound like, where the artist(s) are trying to write catchy hits. It seems this album serves a different purpose, and it’s unique in that way. You may not hear Floral Portrait on your radio, as it caters to a very particular listener. However, to those willing to listen, I imagine most could appreciate its artistry and recognize how planned out and purposeful it is. It truly is a beautiful album.
*Note that I did not rate the shorter sound clips. They didn’t serve as songs as much as they did as transitions between songs.*
Photo Credits From: https://floralportrait.bandcamp.com/album/floral-portrait
