It is a smattering of electronics, tempos, and tones. Blige, and Aaliyah in “90s Music,” a song that otherwise has nothing whatsoever to do with the sounds of that decade, or any other for that matter. A symptom of this could be made in how she name-checks ‘90s artists Nirvana, TLC, Mary J. As such, the mélange gets tiresome and feels like Kimbra is going through a forced checklist of items to touch on. Here the genres cleave against one another rather than meld seamlessly. Her previous work found a niche in merging disparate forms like soul, jazz, rock, dance music, and blues into exciting yet coherent tunes.

While Kimbra’s music has always been experimental pop, the avant-garde tendencies on The Golden Echo spiral out in all directions. By Kimbra not capitalizing on her songs’ promise, the main feeling you’re left with is frustration. Instead, several of the songs, such as lead single “90s Music,” opener “Teen Heat,” and “Madhouse”, rely on intrigue to pique your interest with their zaniness, then fail to deliver any lasting payoff. This would be fine if there was a more subtle approach and the stronger tracks emerged after repeated listens, but even those that do are relatively lackluster. While Vows had an abundance of cuts whose greatness was immediate - “Settle Down,” “Good Intent,” the cover of Nina Simone’s “Plain Gold Ring” - there is nothing comparable here. Of the record’s 12 songs, there is no clear standout. Unfortunately, The Golden Echo goes the opposite direction. As such, it left high hopes for a followup, one which would expand its creator’s palette and her mastery of songcraft. There was the right amount of pop sensibilities and experimentation, genres from across the spectrum intertwined and centered by Kimbra’s stunning voice. The New Zealand songstress’s debut, Vows, was an eclectic bevy of sounds, intoxicating and invigorating. It’s a disappointing realization, one you struggle to come to terms with. There’s no getting around it - Kimbra’s The Golden Echo is a bloated mess.

Kimbra album review