Kristen Martell has released Coming Home, her debut album, in its entirety. The tracks we’ve come to know and love, which have been trickling out over the past year, shine even brighter next to their new counterparts.
Coming Home is brimming with wisdom, particularly for being Martell’s debut album. The lifetime of songwriting she has under her belt shines through with how easily she finds exactly the right words. Martell makes it her mission to act as a guiding hand on this album, and her soothing voice makes it immensely easier to do so. She operates in mantras – letting things fade away, breathing in and out, learning hard lessons. These songs feel as much like therapy sessions to us as the songwriting must have felt to Martell. Even some of the production choices feel like excerpts from a guided meditation, particularly the soft crash of ocean waves at the beginning of “Thoughts of You.”
“Fade Away” remains one of the most stunning tracks on the album. Though it was released as a single before the album’s debut, the sparkle has not faded in the slightest. It’s the best example of Martell’s tranquil sound – from the picturesque cabin that the song finds itself set in, to the heavenly hum of the organ in the arrangement.
Although Martell has already released half of this album in the form of singles, there’s still more to be seen. It’s true that, for the most part, this album follows a pretty cohesive theme. Martell’s brand of hazy, sun-drenched folk is pretty much a constant, but she takes a slight detour from it on “Ain’t No Obstacle”. It has a bluesy rhythm, with her vocals more jazzy and choppy than in previous tracks. Martell sings of self-empowerment and confidence – how there’s no obstacle she can’t overcome.
“Home” is returning to comforting familiarity after a long day of venturing into the scary unknown. Though the album certainly never treads far into that territory, it does have the potential to exist in the aftermath of it. Martell chooses not to wallow in turmoil, but rather gives us the tools to deal with it ourselves. The result is a comforting listen – which, during times like these, may be just what everyone needs.