Agnes Obel is back. Her unique vocals and ethereally beautiful compositions are always welcome. Her new album is called The Meaning of Flowers, and it is gorgeous, though I have some other thoughts, as well. The record released on September 18th.
Agnes comes to us from Denmark. Her most recent album was 2020’s Myopia, which I happen to think is a masterpiece. But she’s been making music for twenty years. This album features her on vocals (most of which are pitch-shifted), piano, keys, synths, and samples. Guest musicians (could not find a list) provide violin, viola, cello, bass, lap steel, harmonium, flute, sax, percussion, and backing vocals.
From that list, you might think this is an epic, cinematic album. But it’s not. The music here is subtle singer-songwriter fare, full of light and space. It feels like curling up in a big, stuffed chair in the corner of a great hall as music drifts from unknown places. It’s comforting, vulnerable, and quite delicate.
But, if I may, that’s something of a problem, too. The album is so comforting that it often feels like background music. Normally her music is filled with dynamic range and strange song structures. This album leans more into a flowing, piano-led vibe on almost every track, so the songs tend to blend together in my mind. A few stand out, but the rest are just kinda there. They are beautiful, no doubt, but aren’t going to stay with me as much.
I hate to say that because, per the title, it makes it seem as if I’ve missed the point. This is, after all, Agnes’ first album since becoming a mother, and you can hear the maturation and maternal instinct in these compositions. They revel in gentle touches. They focus on spacious, quiet notes. They pitter-patter like the most reassuring summer rain you’ve ever heard. Oftentimes, they feel like lullabies. So, yes, they sound like pondering the quiet, still beauty of things we often overlook.
So, this album is worth your time. It is exquisite and full of class, no one can deny. There are twelve songs and I’d say the first half is my favorite by far. It opens with the best song on the album, the title track. What an elegant song! “The Meaning of Flowers” offers gentle piano as it weaves with strings and atmosphere. From the very first seconds, it is one of my favorite songs of the year. So beautiful and ambient.
Other standouts in the first half are “Laymelli” with its moody electronic vibe, which also happens to be the longest song on the album, so it feels like a journey of sorts; “Blood So Red” with its haunting yet bubbling, pastoral sound; and “No Such Thing As Silence”. This piece is incredibly nuanced, with strings that filter in like color, and harmonies that echo off the far corners of my mind. It bids me slow down and listen.
The second half is interesting because most of the songs are about two or three minutes long, so it goes by quickly. There are three highlights for me. First is “Jenn’s On The Way”, my second favorite; this song features a crystalline, almost cinematic synth rhythm that slowly grows and morphs and emotes. I find myself listening to it often. Second is “Tangerine”, an instrumental piece. I always love Agnes’ instrumental tracks because they burn with subtle accents, pregnant passion, and simplicity. This one is as good as any she’s done: full of muted colors, whimsical feelings, and this strange feeling of exploration. I’m not sure why I feel that.
The closer is another highlight called “Faustian Deal”. This one is perhaps the most spectral and strange song on the record, and the way it leads this gentle album into fiery orange light at the climax is simply breathtaking.
All said and done, I’m pretty satisfied with Agnes Obel’s latest. The Meaning of Flowers is more of a river of feeling than a collection of songs. For that reason, it can seem like the tracks blend together and are difficult to tell apart, but it also means the album sweeps you away at times. I don’t think it will ever be my favorite of hers, but I do see myself listening to it when my heart needs comfort and my body needs rest. Give it a try.
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