Album Review: Eleanor Friedberger - Personal Record

Eleanor Friedberger is not known for her conventional approach. Her early career in The Fiery Furnaces largely consisted of constructing abstract lullabies from moody organs and miasmic synths alongside her brother Matthew. Each album in the band's career echoed the word “concept”, and these rarely overlapped. The adhesive that glued the catalogue together was Eleanor's distinctive and crisp vocals, always found at the top of the mix. 

Personal Record takes that voice, and explores a pop sensibility that came to life on her first solo offering, Last Summer (2011). Despite the title's implications, the lyricism is less personal than that of her freshman release. Largely, the album explores themes of love and all its congruent emotions from a bird's eye view with highly relatable results. Tracks like Stare At The Sun and Echo Or Encore buzz in the subconscious, connecting a soundtrack to private memories, left to loop on repeat like an old projector.

At times Personal Record does betray hints of the quirky indie songstress' true character. The coupon collecting and expiry-checking neuroses of My Own World plays like a charming insight into Friedberger's mind, while You'll Never Know Me provides a sad promise of eternal disconnect, blending elements of '60s girl groups with a spangly guitar track.

Not as exciting as Last Summer, this latest release still pays testament to Friedberger's unique take on sound and just how she can fit the pieces together to create interesting melodies and mosaics. Personal Record cements her position as a musical auteur, never shying away from the sound that constantly sets her apart from her peers.