Natalie Mering, aka Weyes Blood, is typically one of those artists who "looks good" to music critics. The American singer-songwriter's previous album was awarded an average of 9.1.
Titanic Rising made it the second highest-rated album of 2019, behind Nick Cave's Ghosteen. As it later turned out, this was part one of a trilogy about the alarming state of the world and climate. And In The Darness,
… Hearts Aglow is part two and zooms in on the "post-pandemic" world. Musically, this translates into a sound even more strongly rooted in the 1970s (think Karen Carpenter and Joni Mitchell). Subdued and often blood-curdlingly beautiful. The critics agree, rating And In Darkness... with an average of 8.8. Annual lists material. However, some songs are so beautiful and fragile that it almost hurts. Take those twittering birds in God Turn Me Into A Flower; will they still be there, you wonder unconsciously as a listener. The answer must come on part three, which, according to Mering (1988), will be a "very uplifting, hopeful on-the-way-to-the-future album. (RME)more
