Brookelen - “Mess”

Brookelen joins us once again on the blog with her latest dream-pop sensation, “Mess,” a tune about the disorder that is often left over when trying to heal.

Before surrendering to its inevitable rhythm, “Mess” fades in with the sounds of studio clatter. The ensuing vibe is gentle and melancholic as Brookelen’s delicate vocal promptly appears in order to reveal her truth. For us, the appeal with this song arrives on multiple levels– there is a raw and honest emotion that can be pulled directly from the lyrical content, but there’s also multiple layers of ear candy that roll dreamily throughout the soundscape. And while Brookelen’s voice delivers the subject matter, it also becomes one of these ethereal layers of sound waves that glues the arrangement together. To be clear, one would not need to understand the lyrics in order for the song to bring about an emotional response.

As far as ear candy is concerned, there is a seemingly looping guitar noodle that spans the track, nearly reminiscent of a music box. It is the perfect ingredient to add to the drums and bass as they slowly churn out the foundation. On the hook, these melodic notes are joined by thicker chords, while additional layers of vocals blanket the production. Brookelen has lined the track with various instances of dynamic shifting, such as the moody break after the first chorus– and it’s moments such as these that demand the attention of the listener, ensuring that they remain engaged. The subdued, lo-fi drums bring a new level to the already dreamy atmosphere, allowing a spotlight to shine on the vocal before returning to a more robust arrangement.

Highlights include the additional layers of gritty guitar in the final stretch of the song, which also happens to be the point where Brookelen utilizes more of her falsetto. Listeners will also find a vibey string arrangement as the song retreats into its final effected guitar chords. As far as we’re concerned, dream pop just doesn’t get any dreamier than “Mess.”

-HD