Austrian Maria Burger aka OSKA delivers the follow-up to her debut album My World, My Love, Paris (2022) with Refined Believer. The title refers to a spiritual quest, possibly leading to meaning, love and truth. The album has wonderful melancholic undertones, with songs brimming with fragile moments. A subtle blend of indie folk, chamber pop and dreampop serves themes of loss, memory, self-doubt
… and the search for connection. Despite the melancholy, the album never becomes melancholy, The songs also have a narrative aspect, for example, With Love, Your Clementine is written from a person saying goodbye to someone and the song April May July is about lost summers and unspoken love. In sultry fashion, Burger meanders through various emotions. Refined Believer's strength lies in its sincere way of conveying feeling. Combined with OSKA's distinctive voice, this is an album par excellence to dream away. (JvQ)more
