Adrienne Pierce
Small Fires
Insect Girl Records

Adrienne Pierce's debut is astonishing. Her alternative style mixes rock and pop. The dreamy "Falling Asleep" is reminiscent of Mazzy Star's spectral sound. The poppy "What You're Looking For" rests on fuzzy guitar and Pierce's adorable vocal. The more conventional singer-songwriter number "Sylvia" is amazing.

The intimacy of the song and Pierce's singing is just great. "Death by Water" is just plain creepy. It's based on a poem by Lorna Cozier and the musical backdrop is haunting. "Small" is jazzy and fun. "Absinthe Minded" takes the nice pun of the title and makes a poignant song about a wish for forgetfulness.

Small Fires is not small at all, in fact it can probably light a bonfire.

Copyright © 2003 Anna Maria Stjärnell