The Weekly Coos

070 Shake has always been an artist who keeps the intrigue high and delivers potent music, even when I feel it’s not reaching the ceiling. We have had some quality drops with her first two albums; as she comes with her third, Petrichor, we see her taking a step back from the progressive R&B, Hip-Hop, and Eectropop sounds and offering up something more alternative, bringing more of a 90s sense to the sonic architecture. It’s like she’s fine-tuning herself to bring out more of an emotional core in her vocals and allowing the strengths of its instruments to shine individually, like when “Elephant” takes an instrumental break to showcase emotion through its piano solo. Though some of her past sounds weave a presence, it doesn’t feel like they play as important a role as her transition into this zone of more alt-rock with electronic complexions smoothly. It defines what comes as one of her most personal works, entwining these direct and perplexing thoughts and doubts, humanizing her world, and giving us connectivity. Growth is key, and having it as a lingering presence in the lyrical atmosphere makes some flaws feel empowering.

What’s evident from the first song, “Sin,” and onward is that Petrichor is more than anything else, a play at the core of 070 Shake’s person, and finding the time to reflect and appreciate what has been in front of her from the early oughts. It fits the notions of what the title refers to, which is a lingering earthy smell after a rain shower, and that grounded earthy scent is part of what makes the music whole. The production is interesting and good, but it isn’t reaching the heights, and it feels like 070 Shake is treading carefully with this new sound to find harmonious bliss. However, that isn’t much of a detriment as these blemishes sound more of an embodiment for her, like flaws. It can dilute the impact, yet there is something to the vocals getting tendered throughout that makes certain moments shine greater. It does so with two of the three features, even when one doesn’t bring much than expected. Courtney Love’s presence on “Song To The Siren” shines with a nostalgic filter, but it doesn’t the gripping nature of Cam on a later track. Fortunately, it doesn’t have the forgetfulness of JT on “Into Your Garden,” tempering the connectivity between the tracks before and after.

070 Shake isn’t without her producers, as we’ve heard through her first two albums, but as potent as some beats can be delivered, the concoctions aren’t always taking it to the next level. Sometimes, it feels like they are playing around a safe ground that shies away enough that it doesn’t dwindle to allow other areas to shine. It makes the essence of its being and wanting an impact between her and the fans. There’s a thrill when you hear the direction from consistent collaborators, and those highs emanate greatly when co-producing alongside others, like the opening track which blends more atmospheric textures into this anthemic electric rock direction. There’s something special when you hear these collaborators create this fantastic and gloomy electronic-country beat that allows vocals to get amplified greatly. It helps that 070 Shake’s lyricism finds footing in showcasing how flawed and real life can come at you, like vices on “Battlefield” or “Vagabond,” and how lost Shake felt before finding her current significant other. A clear divide is heard between the two, which helps elevate to newer plateaus, especially with the production’s help.

Petrichor’s production isn’t so apropos to the sound we’ve gotten from 070 Shake, it’s ever-present, even when tinges of the sound you’ve gotten used to start finding life within the layers, like the Hip-Hop nature of “Into Your Garden,” or “What’s Wrong With Me,” where the electronic glitz finds a presence in amplifying the potency of the vocal delivery. It isn’t like “Pieces of You,” which balances the classical, pop, and electronic on this astral plane, becoming more experimental like how she blends the wintery coziness of “Winter Baby / New Jersey Blues;” it’s two contrasting sounds you wouldn’t expect to work but does so brilliantly. The highs on the album are significant, and the lows are lightweights, that make a dent but rarely make a fizzle. These lows fade through the seams, becoming connected to the homogenized transitions, but as the highs stand out, you can’t help but feel enamored by everything happening in this album. It’s especially so when you get something as fantastic as “Blood On Your Hands,” which sees 070 Shake delivering more of a spoken-word singing hybrid. These standalone moments are separate from others but have a fluid tangential flow.

070 Shake’s album Petrichor was somewhat surprising, and I mean that positively. It’s an album that tries to take chances while keeping you entwined in the music getting delivered. There is immense synergy, even with its downbeats, but the final product feels rewarding when listening to it from beginning to end. It’s elevated by chances to elevate the instrument further, weaving it into a character depth. I can’t recommend this album enough, even when there was slight disappointment there wasn’t more done, yet what you get makes up for much of it. Give it a spin, and let me know what you feel in the comments below.