Z Berg release her new album, Get Z To A Nunnery, which features numerous guests including Ryan Ross (Panic at the Disco, The Young Veins), Ethan Gruska, Phoebe Bridgers, Madison Cunningham and Blake Mills...

Z Berg's first came to prominence in teenage girl-group, The Like, who made wistfully-dreamy new-wave and spiky mod-pop. They toured with everyone from The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys to Phoenix, Dinosaur Jr., Muse, and Maroon5. This was followed by Phases, an exercise in pop exuberance formed with a group of friends including Alex Greenwald (of Phantom Planet) and Jason Boesel (of Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes.)

Her solo record, Get Z To Z Nunnery, is yet another departure, a more stripped down project. Here we get to hear Z Berg's vocals in all their raw beauty. Her vocals are enticing and captivating, the chord changes are unexpected, making the songs sound busy, and the lyrics are deep and heartfelt.

The opening 'To Forget You' sounds timeless. The orchestrations and intimate lounge band give this a '60s feel whilst still feeling fresh and modern. The album, as a whole is a loving fusion of folk, pop and soundtrack styles. There's even a Christmas single, 'Bad List', a duet with Ryan Ross which has the goods to become a Christmas standard for future generations. It was originally released as a single in 2018.

This is certainly an album you'll love on the first play through, but you'll get more pleasure the more times you revisit it. A lovingly crafted project packed with memorable songs.

9

Nick Smithson