Wonderland, the debut album from Dublin-based i am niamh, certainly lives up to its name. The singer’s classically-trained soprano vocal loops and layers its way over jaunty piano, rich cello and soaring strings. The result is never less than engaging. Yet this epic, 14-track collection isn’t limited to ‘orchestral pop’, as her style has often been described. Indeed, it’s an album that’s difficult to classify. The word ‘quirky’ has been bandied about a lot, which is accurate in its way. But it is not the whole story either.
Album opener ‘Wonderland’ fuses the singer’s classical voice with soulful, Duke Special-style piano to beguiling effect; ‘Bellend’ is a twinkly, xylophone-peppered affair; and ‘New Home’ flirts with a hip-swivelly Latin rhythm. As the album progresses, however, it gets even more interesting. Producer Conan Wynne adds a darker layer with unsettling, off-kilter beats to key track ‘All For View’, while ‘Hang On’ is pure shimmery electro-driven goodness. The quirkiness is enlarged by Niamh’s unusual vocal delivery – part Kate Bush, part Julie Feeney, all Niamh. The cumulative effect may not be to everyone’s taste, and it’s a long listen at 14 tracks, but all in all this is an exciting and experimental debut. Don’t try to figure it out – just sit back and enjoy!