A New Release from Arily Michele
Arily Michele’s meditation for wildflowers takes its inspiration from Rocky Mountain landscapes and the return of wildflowers after forest fires. That interest in renewal suits an album whose songs favour gradual development, recurring melodies and a consistent sonic palette. Her third album gives its dream-pop arrangements plenty of time to develop. At its best, Michele’s melodic instincts make a persuasive case for spending an hour in this company.
Opening track “alpenglow” establishes the approach with airy production, generous reverb and arpeggios that circle a central melody. It reminded me of Weyes Blood and Beach House, particularly in the relationship between the vocals and the surrounding layers. There are few major transitions; the movement comes from additions to the arrangement. As an introduction, it gives a clear sense of the album’s priorities, including a willingness to stay with an idea and explore its possibilities.
“desert orchid” introduces more dynamic variation and a more defined song structure. The vocals and melody take a larger role, giving the track a stronger sense of direction. I particularly liked the syncopated bass work, which adds rhythmic interest beneath the softer textures. “butterfly garden,” featuring Lauren Amethyst and Dana P, is another highlight. I hear the Weyes Blood resemblance more clearly here, both in Michele’s voice and in the music around it. The comparison feels useful without accounting for everything that makes the song work.
“silver dollar” is among the album’s strongest songs, with an immediate appeal that distinguishes it from the more gradual arrangements. Its catchiness also provides a useful change of pace. As the record progressed, I found myself developing clear preferences, with “anywhere but here” and “komorebi” joining it among my favourites. Those songs give the album enough individual highlights to support its sustained mood.
I try to listen to albums from beginning to end, and I think a ten-song version might have been more effective in keeping my attention. That said, I enjoyed the album and found plenty of songs worth revisiting.
I can comfortably recommend meditation for wildflowers. Michele has a good ear for melody and knows how to build an arrangement around her voice. The production gives the songs a shared identity, while the best of them have an appeal that makes it easy to pick them out for another listen. I came away with several favourites, especially “silver dollar,” and an appreciation for how well she brings these sounds together. There is plenty here to enjoy across a full listen, and enough strong songwriting to keep individual tracks in rotation.
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