Berlin-based Carolina Lee has conjured a luxuriant, introspective world with their sophomore album, It’s Still Now. This four-piece band, led by the evocative voice of Nadja Carolina, crafts a dreamy, irresistible, timeless, and immediate blend of psychedelic folk and dream pop music. With rich textures, intricate arrangements, and a lyrical depth that explores themes of loss, renewal, and fleeting hope, It’s Still Now is a profoundly emotive, mesmerizing full-length that will immediately resonate with even the pickiest music enthusiasts. From the moment the album begins, Carolina Lee’s sound feels like stepping into a hazy reverie. The echoic ambiance of jangly guitars and angular riffs creates a soft, hypnotic backdrop that draws the listener in. The guitars weep and shimmer, their tones steeped in reverb and warmth, evoking a melancholic beauty reminiscent of 90s dream pop and 70s singer-songwriter ballads. There’s a cinematic quality to the arrangements, with sounds that seem to stretch infinitely, creating an otherworldly landscape of nostalgia and introspection.
The inclusion of subtle brass elements and vintage Casio keyboard tones adds layers of unexpected and deeply satisfying texture. These touches are never overpowering. Instead, they blend into the overall sound, offering just the right amount of eccentricity to keep the listener engaged. This attention to detail makes It’s Still Now a richly layered experience, luxuriant enough to satisfy longstaning psych-pop fans. Nadja Carolina’s voice is the heart of Carolina Lee’s sound. It’s a dark, velvety instrument that carries an emotional weight far beyond her gentle delivery. Her melodies are haunting and hypnotic, winding stories of late-night barstool confessions and solitary walks through Berlin’s shadowed streets. There’s a timeless quality to her delivery, recalling the intimacy of artists like Hope Sandoval or Nico, while still feeling uniquely hers. The back vocals, layered delicately behind Nadja’s lead, add an ethereal quality to the songs. They swirl and swell like whispers in a cathedral, amplifying the emotional impact without ever stealing the spotlight. Together, the vocal arrangements feel like a conversation between the self and its ghosts, an ongoing dialogue that speaks to the themes of loss and hope threaded throughout the album.
While much of It’s Still Now feels like floating in a dream, the rhythm section provides a grounding force that keeps the album from drifting too far into abstraction. The intricate and melodic basslines add depth and movement to the compositions. They serve as the spine of the record, holding together the expansive arrangements and providing a steady pulse that drives the songs forward. The drumming is equally impressive, offering a mix of laid-back grooves and subtle flourishes that elevate the tracks. At times, the rhythms echo the swing of early 70s soul or the chilled-out vibe of 90s trip-hop, lending a sense of timelessness. The interplay between the drums and bass creates a dynamic foundation that allows the more atmospheric elements to glide.
Lyrically, It’s Still Now is a deeply personal album, exploring themes of loss, love, and new beginnings with a raw and poetic honesty. Nadja Carolina’s lyrics paint vivid pictures of Berlin’s streets, half-empty bars, and quiet moments of introspection. There’s a sense of yearning in her words, a search for meaning and connection in a world that often feels chaotic and unkind. Yet, for all its melancholy, the album is not without hope. There’s a quiet optimism woven into the fabric of these songs, a belief in the possibility of renewal even in the face of despair. It’s this balance of light and dark that makes It’s Still Now such a compelling listen. The album feels like a conversation between the past and the present, a meditation on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life’s most profound moments. One of the most striking aspects of It’s Still Now is its ability to feel retro and contemporary. The vintage tones of the Casio keyboards and subtle rhythm machines nod to the past, while the production’s crispness and clarity root the album firmly in the present. This blend of old and new creates a sound that feels timeless, a record that could just as easily have been released in the 70s or the 90s as it is today.
The band’s use of space is particularly noteworthy. Each instrument has room to breathe, and the mix allows every element to shine without overpowering the others. This sense of balance exemplifiest the production work of Max Braun, who has helped Carolina Lee craft an album that feels equally intimate and expansive. While the music is universal, It’s Still Now is also a love letter to Berlin. The city’s essence permeates the album, from the gritty romance of its streets to the quiet solitude of its hidden corners. There’s a sense of place that runs through these songs, a feeling that they could only have been born in Berlin. This connection to the city adds an extra layer of depth to the album, grounding its ethereal soundscapes in a tangible reality. It’s a reminder that even the most otherworldly music is rooted in the experiences and environments of its creators.
With It’s Still Now, Carolina Lee has taken a significant step forward, building on the foundation of their debut album Haunted Houses while pushing their sound in new and exciting directions. The songs are more confident, the arrangements more ambitious, and the performances more assured. It’s the sound of a band coming into their own, fully realizing their potential, and delivering a record that feels like the culmination of their journey so far. It’s a record that invites the listener to slow down, reflect, and lose themselves in its lush soundscapes and heartfelt performances. It’s Still Now is an essential listen, as Carolina Lee has created a timeless and immediate piece of art. With this release, the band has firmly established themselves as one of the most influential voices in Berlin’s music scene, and I can’t wait to see where they go next. Keep your eye peeled on their social media pages, as this album is about to get released on December 20th.
Thoughts Words Action 