Sarah Schonert works with distinct harmonies and some great melodies at her home studio to produce her fourth album and second LP called My Unwinding State.
The indie singer-songwriter, who is based out of Peoria, Illinois, combines a plethora of instruments on her album, from piano to vocoder synths and electronic elements. Schonert’s songs, which are loaded with confessional tales from her life, are unbroken stream-of-consciousness-like renderings of the everyday world. Listeners will be captivated by Schonert’s honest and down to earth lyrics.
The eclectic tracks all hold an interesting perspective. The highly emotive concept album is an experimental piece of work with Schonert professing that she is not afraid to work with vintage instruments on her album. She is also willing to substitute electronic-sounding instruments from customized virtual instruments into her usually keyboard and piano-based work. And with 25 years of experience on the piano and vocal performance under her belt, it is not every day that we get to see such a seasoned musician bare her soul to us.
“6 O Clock” is a track that is followed by a great piano melody. The electronic sounds, which gets thrown into topics about the surrenders of everyday life, produces a layered and eccentric delivery. The tinge of longing evident early on in the track gets lost towards the end.
In “Break Me Down,” Schonert starts out the song by dishing out some spoken performance art piece that provides an introspective perspective. The track talks about winding down and seems to be about the singer going through a breakdown as she delves on her fondest memories. The trip down memory lane isn’t about all things fine and dandy, as the singer talks about how hard it is to sometimes bare it all.
What makes “Hit Save” so memorable is that it takes listeners down on a journey of some magical moment. The title to the track is repeated in fluxes that revert in and out of the song. The resonances of electronics and keyboard make for a compatible pairing.
“Back Under Steady Rain” laments about the joy and surrender of love and sometimes about its hardships and how she soldiers on. The sweet sounds speak about transcendence as Schonert takes her stance on boundaries that comes with resolutions as she tries to keep up with her obligations and responsibilities.
“Experienne” soars from the electronics permeating the track. It provides as an interlude to the album with stark and unique beats that pieces together both halves of the record.
Towards “Spare You Me,” we get a soft and yet multi-layered sound that talks about a sheltered life and about dwelling on the past, remorse and tears. The song resounds with a magical air, and listener’s attention will be temporarily suspended by the charming music.
Although most of the album is tainted by the singer airing out her life’s problems, for instance, “Corner” has Schonert squaring herself a quarrel she is having with a lover. The songs seem like a safe space for the singer to express herself. It also seems like a sane place for her to unleash her painful secrets and delve into memories of the past. More than anything, the album serves as a much needed therapeutic release for the gifted singer-songwriter. This goes on to create a highly intimate and atmospheric collection of work.
Lovers of Kate Bush and Enya will relish in this new album. Refreshingly filled with eccentric and eclectic instruments, Schonert makes it her trade to combine live-set instruments with virtual generated sounds – harnessing intricately layered pieces that pulsates with life.