Maiwah
In Amongst the Ferns (Independent)

Since the Weeknd put Canadian R&B back on the radio, Bandcamp has experienced a glut of badly mastered, off-kilter copycat albums. Trust us. We have to listen to most of them.

Very rarely does a local record stick out as a world-class example of the genre—which makes up-and-coming four-piece Maiwah’s debut offering even more remarkable.

A DIY album that sounds anything but, In Amongst the Ferns is immersive. With powerful harmonies, piano swells that pan around the listener, and artfully reverbed guitar bends, first track “All This Distance” introduces the sound palette that defines the record. Seamlessly merging acoustic instruments with choppy synths, the song is poised between decades, blending soft 1960s jazz vocals with modern production techniques.

Carrying only select elements from one song to the next, In Amongst the Ferns is characterized by its versatility. “Frozen Lake”, for instance, is a delightful interplay between Stranger Things-esque ’80s synths and singer Kristie McCracken’s mature lyrics, which, when juxtaposed with the following track, “Blindfold”, reveal the group’s flexibility. Buoyed by big rock choruses, the song lifts the tempo of the album and refocuses its sound on sweeping electric-guitar chords and live drums.

Concluding with “Highest Hill”, a bass-driven tune that leans towards the four-piece’s pop roots, Maiwah’s debut offers a master class in how to fuse electronic, indie, and R&B elements into a cohesive and original sound.