Caves

On her previous album, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Tristen crafted highly melodic, ambitiously arranged indie pop with an Americana tinge. For the follow-up, she leaves the twangy touches behind to focus on a bigger, more electronic-based sound. It's pure pop delivered on a cinematic-sounding scale, with a seeming nod to big-production synth-pop pieces of the ‘80s. While Caves has its quiet, reflective moments, “Catalyst” boasts a straight-up disco beat boosted by buzzing, angular synths. And despite its baroque-pop intro, “House of War” quickly finds its way to a midtempo dance-pop feel. Tristen has a voice that sounds equally comfortable leading the charge on a soaring, epic track like the album opener “No One’s Gonna Know” and on a low-key song like the wispy “Monster.” Though Tristen was still a Nashville resident as of this record’s release, Caves invites one to wonder whether her earlier earthy tones represented Music City’s influence on the Illinois native and if this album is the sound of a woman fully embracing her true pop personality.