Telescopic

From the first moments of the album-opening "Walk on the Fire," it's obvious that this a very different Edith Frost album compared to her debut, Calling Over Time. While the important touchstones are still there — such as the stellar voice and downplayed, subtle lyrics — a wider sonic palette is utilized; it's almost psychedelic at times, with layers of guitars and keyboards. Most likely, this shift is due to the production team of Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema of the Royal Trux (here under the guise of Adam and Eve). But despite the added sonic strata, Frost's songs retain their stark beauty, delivering lines like, "Love is like a vine/It withers over time" (from "The Very Earth") with a kind of jaded distance that tells the listener she's been there. In the context of her other albums, Telescopic is the perfect stepping stone to the more pop-minded Wonder Wonder, which followed three years later.