Love's Crushing Diamond

Love's Crushing Diamond

When Jordan Lee's gentle vocals take shape in the fog of a baroque pop group tuning up and finding its footing, a sweet crescendo makes a pillowy landing. It's immediately clear: you’re in good hands with Mutual Benefit. There will be no cowbells, industrial collisions, pouty punkettes, or sterile, neon-colored synths. There will be acoustic guitars that sparkle, tiptoeing percussion, swaying strings, and vocals that wrap you in a cocoon of comfort and warmth: this is the music that would accompany a lone sailor on a twinkling sea of light in a Hollywood fantasy. No sharks here—just an adventurous spirit. The listener is swept away in “Golden Wake,” a tune that both lulls and delicately fist-pumps its chorus (“We weren’t meant to be afraid!”), all the while barely noticing a metronomic hiss weaving in and out of the piano and violin threads. “Advanced Falconry” billows softly, with strings and a muffled bit of banjo, while that maligned instrument shines more brightly (and with more pluck!) on the airy, pastoral “Strong Swimmer.” Jordan’s view is of the half-full variety, and this stunning debut makes the world feel right.

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