Amy Jay’s latest album ‘Mnemonics’ works through memories, realisations, and acceptances to paint a bittersweet, soulful, real picture of the internal voice – a voice that has the capacity to make or break us, depending on how we perceive it.
How The Mind Can Be A Trap
Soft and warm in its instrumentation, ‘How The Mind Can Be A Trap’ sets the tone for the album with its alt-folk and indie rock sound. The song is beautifully arranged, allowing enough space for every element to be heard.
Margins
While ‘Margins’ maintains the indie rock sound, it is more upbeat than its predecessor. Lyrically the song captures the feeling of finding yourself not being able to fit in and living on the margins, away from the mainstream, making it a song that a lot of us can relate to.
The Critic
With sombre guitar starting off the track, ‘The Critic’ leans towards aching softness and raw vulnerability. The song builds gradually, as one layer is put upon another as the song progresses, with no erasure of any of the musical elements.
Back To What’s Natural
A catchy riff and a grounding drum pattern driving the track, ‘Back To What’s Natural’ captures the idea of returning to one’s true self and shrugging off the identity that you were forcing upon yourself. The shift in pace that comes towards the end brings in a very distant, otherworldly, dream-like feel to the song.
Can’t Go Back
With a groove that builds softly, ‘Can’t Go Back’ takes on an unhurried, spaced out sound that will make you want to stare at the stars while pondering and wondering. The song captures the truth that one can’t go back in time to undo something or even do something, and that we have to live with it.
Excuse Me
‘Excuse Me’ brings in quite some experimentation to the album, with its instrumental choices. Moves away slightly from the indie rock and takes on a slight indie pop sound, with its edited vocals and guitar playing, bringing in a new flavour to the album.
The Little Things
The instrumentation in ‘The Little Things’ is muffled and not on your nose, and this allows the vocals to be at the centre of the track, the vulnerable honesty that the vocal delivery houses. The song marks a shift in the thematics of the song, as it recognises the joy that is found in the little things.
Floral Comfort
Opening with breathy, floaty vocals, 'Floral Comfort’ maintains the thematic shift as it focuses on the comfort and the solace found in unexpected places. The song’s layers build gradually, adding on to the texture as the song builds on its themes.
Move On
Lyrically beautiful as it is sound wise, ‘Move On’ banks on the vocals to express the emotional aspect of the song. The song captures the moment where one decides to move on and keep at it, bringing in and participating in new chapters in life.
Compassion
With an upbeat acoustic guitar riff starting off the track, ‘Compassion’ feels like the song version of sunlight through thick fog. The song is a perfect choice for the last song on the album, as it acts as a beautiful and fitting resolution and acceptance after having worked through the problems.
The album in its sound, can be compared to that of Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo, owing to the alt-folk and indie-rock sound it houses. In all its beauty, pain, realness, the album is an absolute must listen.