Dutch songstress Chantal Acda is one of those artists in whom, it’s possible to see a progression, an emerging trajectory in her work, not based on giant leaps, but a gradual arc of development. Since stepping out from behind the Sleepingdog moniker, her solo work has shown an increasing confidence, and ‘Sparkle in Our Flaws’ marks a clear move forward from 2013’s ‘Let Your Hands Be My Guide’.
That doesn’t mean to say she’s belting out the tunes a la Florence Welch, but there’s something in the way she articulates herself, both lyrically and vocally, that suggests a growing sense of self-assurance.
The album’s title suggests something more than merely acceptance, but a celebration of human fallibility, and in the eight songs featured here, there’s a tangible sense of humanity, a warmth infused through her introspective reflections.
‘Homes’ provides a beautifully haunting start to the album, the folk guitar leanings enmeshed with an undulating synth line and subtle but insistent beats. All the while Chantal’s voice is gentle yet persuasive as the tracks swells to an uplifting conclusion. There are darker, more abrasive tones rippling beneath the surface of ‘Games’, but it’s the title track which really finds her expanding her sonic palette to create a song of almost breathtaking beauty as she drowns in a slowly-building orchestral swell.
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It’s certainly not the big choruses or immediate hooks behind the appeal of this album; instead, it’s the subtlety of the arrangements, the softness of the harmonies, and the understated emotional depth of Chantal’s singing that slowly draws the listener in.
While we may sparkle in our flaws, this album has very few indeed.
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