Pleasure Burklund Crafts Irresistible Energy Pop on ‘Songbouquet’ » PopMatters

“Whereas the songs are private to Pleasure, the creation of Songbouquet represents a collective labor of affection by and for the Philadelphia trans music neighborhood.” That’s verbatim from the press supplies for the debut album from Pleasure Burklund & Her Band, 13 tracks produced by Mattie Chaya Kimberly Klauser (Pillow Princess, Mandy Valentine), that includes a bevy of trans and queer collaborators as each performers and people behind the scenes. Whereas Burklund is on a mission to highlight this vibrant Philly neighborhood, it doesn’t harm that her songs are catchy, heartfelt, and carried out with a wholesome dose of ardour and enthusiasm.

Opening with the temporary, a cappella “Three Little Roses” (joined later within the album with the equally organized “Morning Chook”), Burklund affords a cheeky opening gambit earlier than the jangly guitars of “On the Line” crash in. “It makes me need to kiss every dot on the road,” she sings. “Inked in blue / Between us ’until I get to you,” over luscious harmonies. With Burklund dealing with lead vocals, guitar, and piano, she’s joined by a big crew of musicians, anchored by a core rhythm part of Ashley Ferrante on drums and Pansy Lee Erksine on bass, the crunchy, guitar-based indie rock type paying homage to Nineties school radio however with a present-day freshness.

Visitor vocalists pepper Songbouquet in a means that by no means appears intrusive; as an alternative, they uplift the songs and provides them better dimension. The ethereal, guitar-spiked touches of “Emotion” are considerably bolstered by the harmonies of Sam Rise. Amber Jane’s (Moondrifts) contributions to “Hell in a Purse” underscore the traditional pop balladry, recalling the Lovely South‘s emotional weight and edgy honesty.

“Phrases Track” is introduced as a joyous pop-punk duet between Pleasure Burklund and Zaza Diana. Oh, Burklund’s guitar riffs slash away, and a flugelhorn solo from Erksine crashes the occasion like an sudden visitor bringing a case of actually good beer. Burklund’s identify is (deservedly) on the quilt of Songbouquet, nevertheless it clearly takes a village to deliver all of it collectively.

The only “Regular Coronary heart” is one other of the numerous highlights, which Burklund wrote for her long-term accomplice, “a love track for somebody who has been by means of it with you, who’s been an anchor by means of turbulent change”. Burklund dots the track’s wistful association with witty, verbose lyrics that deliver the ugly cry of true like to life because the observe begins: “Do you bear in mind when within the grocery store / I smashed a full glass bottle of mayonnaise / It splattered on my scorching pink costume / I used to be so upset / You needed to take me (cryin’) in a full pietà on aisle six?”

Whereas Pleasure Burklund’s slashing electrical guitars make up a lot of the sonic environment of this raucous but profoundly private report, there’s refreshing selection on Songbouquet. “Subsequent Life” affords up lush acoustic guitars in a stunning folks setting, “Not Gonna Fall” has a chew to it that manages to sound each twangy and anthemic, and “Dream Customer” is a floating, piano-centered ballad infused with a dreamlike high quality, dropped close to the album’s lifeless heart.

Whereas Songbouquet definitely sounds impressed by lots of the traditional pop and rock information that preceded it, it additionally affirms the facility of neighborhood. “The songs themselves might come from a personal and playful place, however the way in which we collect and share music is and has at all times been political and profound,” Burklund writes within the press supplies.

She and her group have carried out numerous dwell performances in monetary assist of native mutual assist efforts, assist to Gaza, and gender-affirming look after the local people. The truth that Pleasure Burklund usually shares this music within the identify of serving to these much less lucky is to be lauded, nevertheless it doesn’t harm that her songs are rattling good, and her band sounds wonderful performing them.