Lucia Fumero - La Naissance De La Mer (2023)

Lucia Fumero returns to Modern Obscure Music, with a standout EP ‘La naissance de la mer’ (translating to The Birth of the Sea). Following a two year interlude, this mini-album represents the turning of a new page for Fumero’s sound; deep and sparkling explorations into a distillation of lo-fi intimacy.

Dedicated to her mother and soon-to-be-born son, Fumero has created the narrative in this EP as a space to connect the dots between the generations of her family. Fleeting harmonies, repeating chants and choppy rhythmics perfectly align with her skeletal, delicate electronic accompaniments. This, combined with confident piano melodies help form a perfect melange of quietness, mystery and emotion in ways that feel all too rare.

While the album might begin unassumingly with the downtempo watery keys in ‘Prélude’, ‘L’oiseau’ moves forward, grounding listeners with its ambient introduction and bursts of radiance from the resounding libretto. ‘Voyage’ glistens with deeply reverberating vocal harmonies while the surrounding interludes ‘Jouer au sept’ & ‘La flute d’Hector’ melt into the tracks past and present with their charming electronics. Where ‘Je n’existe pas’ picks up the pace with inventive use of sidechain and tactile percussion, ‘La mer (même si tu n’ést pas là)’ rounds off the EP with an airy piano lead and the endearing clip-clop of a vintage drum machine.

Each of the seven tracks carry a warm sense of familiarity. Awash with lush tape fuzz and choral ambience throughout, listeners are encouraged down a path of Fumero’s blissful musings. She sums up this EP beautifully in her own words: “I hope it leads you to experience reality with kindness and embrace life with compassion and a sense of slowness.”