A beautiful, sensual, intimate debut LP by the Milton Keynes-raised singer-songwriter, themed around personal history and identity, the title (燕) meaning the swallow bird in Chinese, part of her given name, Siew Yian from her Chinese-Malaysian heritage. Ethereal, lingering electronica and breathy close-mic vocals and harmonies linger and shimmer throughout, with opener Golden recalling being her younger self,”“I don’t look like you … you know it’s not your fault to be the first”, about identity trauma from being an English town with her east Asian looks and background. Meditations On A Place, which follows, is an outstanding track with swelling, beautiful orchestrations, and as a talented cellist, such embellishments are a perfect fit. Other highlights include Echo, also about dealing ancestral confusion (“I won’t carry your shame / Won’t be your echo again… I couldn’t be anyone else / I look to you, I see myself”), I Promise, An Ocean, and Something Other Than Years, though the whole album is richly textured exploration of self and sensuality. Whatever mixed feelings her background evoke, Chua, an articulate class act whose vocal delivery feels like a slowly created, exquisite painting, is definitely going places. Out on 4AD.
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