hemlocke springs is Whimsical in “the apple tree under the sea”

hemlocke springs’ sophomore album, the apple tree under the sea is a testament to springs' continued growth as an artist. The project builds on the sound she has established for herself while introducing new vocals, synths, and introspections, particularly around self-discovery and exploration.

“the red apple” opens the album with haunting vocals and building production that set the tone of the project in the direction of an interplay of ‘devilry’ and ‘purity’. While a short song (though not the shortest) on the album, it builds tension that is released upon the start of the second track.

“the beginning of the end” plays into springs’ signature pop-synth-alt sound, bringing it to a new level, while diving into the discovery of who she is. The ending cheery chorus vocals juxtapose the rather heavier implication of the rest of the song.

“head, shoulders, knees and ankles” jumps straight into a circus-esque sound mixed with building synth production and a lyrical flow that is constantly going for the first two-thirds of the song. springs draws the listener in with her storytelling and background adlibs that make you go back again and again to catch everything she says. The final third suddenly drops into a piano ballad, then back into a piano version of the circus-esque first part. It creates an interesting and stark tonal difference in her approach to the circus that is love, both witnessing others and within her own.

“w-w-w-w-w” has a lengthy intro of fun percussive with drawn out synths, eventually adding in layered instrumentals that make the listener intrigued. springs’ vocals are punchy and lean into the pop punk intonations that make her performance stand out. The further into the song, the more ‘pop-sounding’ the instrumental gets; it brings back some of the synths for the outro that make the pace feel picked up again.

“moses” opens with layered, acapella vocals that let us sit with what will become the chorus of the song, with one lyrical alteration, emphasising her determination to ‘push through the trough’. The first verse has a simple organ instrumental that eventually builds into the full sound that the rest of the song takes on. The instrumental bridge and outro allow for the production to take centre stage, creating a lively, if slightly uneasy, feeling in the listener.

“sever the blight” opens with strings and a gentle lulling feel that directly opposes the first half of the first verse lyrics of capture, but plays into the reminiscing in the second half. This evolves to an ominous and building production behind the chorus. The upbeat backing, a mix of 80s synth and pop punk, jumps in at the second verse and continues through the rest of the song, creating an easily danceable yet devastating experience.

“sense is (prelude)” is the shortest track on the project. It calls back to the haunting tone of “the red apple” but in a completely different way. It brings a tightness in the production that makes the listener feel hunted. The indistinct voices that cry out about judgment add to that dread.

“sense (is)” takes a complete 180-degree turn from the prelude, returning to the synth pop of some of the other tracks. springs’ lyricism and vocal intonations are very strong and playful in this track, allowing the listener to feel the ebbs and flows of the story being told. The song walks us through trying to leave a place she feels trapped, and losing her footing in the new place she finds herself in. It's a lyrical and instrumental push and pull.

“set me free” is a whimsical song across the board: vocals, instrumental, lyrics, production. It feels like the listener is witnessing bubbles pop around them with the backing, especially the percussion, used throughout the track. This is a strong second-to-last choice for the tracklist.

“be the girl!” starts with a slow pace and easy build. One third into the track, the synths make an appearance alongside the percussion, picking the song up and carrying it through various waves and sounds for the rest of the track. The song’s lyrics play into the apple, and forbidden fruit theme of the first track and the sound combines several elements found throughout other tracks on the project, creating an album loop that is narratively and sonically satisfying.

the apple tree under the sea is a fantastic album that serves as a fun and interesting building block in hemlock springs’ releases. This project demonstrates both that springs’ has found her sound and that there are many new places within that sound to explore.

Listen below:

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