Paige Aufhammer

"There's an awful lot of noise out here, where sound becomes an anthem to fear," Paige Aufhammer laments on "Wandering," a song from her eponymous debut album. Perhaps that's why she's created such a quiet set, all the better to find a sense of peace in a world racked by war, pain and suffering. But quiet should not imply placid, because this is an album that quivers with emotion and some of the most gorgeous music you'll ever hear. Like a Monet masterpiece, the set is subtly shaded and dappled in light, its hues pastel, its moods shifting from introspective to pure whimsy, and all washed in rippling serenity. "Songbird" is a twitter with luminescent guitars, swirls of rich organ, and drums that beat out like a heart. Overhead, Aufhammer's clear, sweet vocals set the bird free, and the entire song lifts off, light as a feather. "Oh Love" is even more delicate, edged with laced guitar and etched by the singer's vocals, as clear and brilliant as glass. "Mad Man's Machine" captures a different side of the artist, as she belts out a bluesy number, with superb psychedelic drenched organ and jazzy piano courtesy of Rob Whitlock. "Out of Time," in contrast, features a funky edge, fancy fiddling and a twangy western guitar. And it's that latter style that infuses most of the set, creating introspective auras, sliding across moody melodies, and conjuring up melancholic atmospheres. The music throughout the set is sublime, and Aufhammer's vocals absolutely magical. Her lovely lyrics are equally so, her themes revolving mostly around love and conflicted emotions, and will inevitably resonate with any sentient being. "Angel's Songs" she calls them, and if you, like her, feel caught in a world of pain, you'll understand her language and need to find a piece of peace. You need look no further than this stunning set.