The album opens with "The Ballad of the Bride of Frankenstein". It niggled me enough. but I think it's about being the bride of the monster, with Frankenstein himself being the doctor. Ah God, I hate being that person. The song itself is almost a poem, set to an ethereal sound bed and a thumping drum. Sometimes this approach works, sometimes it doesn’t. Here, it really does, because the lyrics are so strong. As the song unfolds, the music comes in waves, lifting everything. An epic track, and a very strong opening to the album.

Similarly wordy is "Stumbling", which also rocks along at quite a clip. It’s actually a much darker song than the music suggests. The lyrics touch on the recent pandemic, and I have to admit the one moment that made me feel slightly uncomfortable was the line "While so many people died, ah", delivered in an unexpectedly upbeat way. As I said, it left me feeling a little uneasy. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great song, and that reaction is likely just me being somewhat sensitive.

For me, "To Me" is the reverse of the opening track. Delivered like a poem, with pleasant enough accompaniment, but the track feels like walking through molasses, slow and for me somewhat unrewarding.

"After the Rain" brings us back to something I feel a little more comfortable with. It’s very much Americana, with a hint of country. By the third verse, I was expecting another slow-burn, poem-style song, but when the chorus hit, I felt somewhat relieved. Don’t get me wrong, I love the spoken and written word, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little light relief, a break that allows you to step back and reset.

I love the soundscape created by "Beginning of Time". The mix of natural sounds and a guitar that feels like sunshine awakening everything it touches is simply beautiful. The song itself feels like a reflection on a life already lived, and the moments left behind. For me, it’s the vocals that truly lift the track, there’s a positivity and optimism that seems to radiate from every note.

And then, whoa, what’s happening? "Catch My Breath" opens like the soundtrack to a Buck Rogers episode, overladen with synth. That initial impression is fleeting, though, as the song properly begins with the vocals, and the 80s influence becomes a little more subdued, though it’s still present in essence. Lyrically, the track unfolds like a Belinda Carlisle song, further reinforcing that 80s vibe. It’s quite a departure from the rest of the tracks, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is still a great song.

It’s funny how you sometimes latch onto the smallest detail. When "Do You See Me" starts, there’s a rhythmic beat that I couldn’t quite identify. It sounded like some kind of machine, but it was likely just a drum. It reminded me of the tapping in the Beatles’ Blackbird. For many years, I didn’t know it was Paul McCartney’s foot. Now that’s rhythm. Anyway, I digress. The song itself is a melancholic cry for affirmation, wanting to be seen, wanting to be loved. Simple, effective, and beautiful.

I love the wordplay in "Mama Me", a song about the joys of motherhood. It starts beautifully, and at first, I thought it was going to be more of a monologue than a song. But when the break comes, we’re into full, band mode, upbeat brass and an in-your-face celebration of all that it is to be a mama. I’m on the other team, but I can still identify with the joys, even if, for me, the destination didn’t involve quite as much discomfort and pain.

"Hummingbird" opens with a beautiful piano intro. I hear a lot of subtle additional sounds, perhaps the piano itself creaking under the fingers, or the pedals reacting. When the vocals come in, they carry a kind of 40s lounge-singer vibe: sexy, assured, confident. Wonderful.

The album closes with "New Jersey Turnpike", which for me conjures thoughts of smog, pollution, and congestion. The song, however, ignores all of my preconceptions. It is a lament for the passing of someone, a parent maybe, and the memories leading up to that loss. A reflective, sad conclusion to the album, yet beautiful and somehow fitting.

For me a great discovery. There's a couple of tracks that don't quite strike a chord for me, but overall this is a great album, with some wonderful standout tracks, including "Stumbling" and "Do You See Me" to name but a few. I think this marks her twelfth album release and I'm amazed I haven't come upon her before.