Washington - Insomnia

Tue 1st Nov, 2011 in Music Reviews

Remember Megan Washington? She was the pixie-cut ARIA queen of 2010, the songstress swiftly enchanting audiences across the nation. Understandably, the immense popularity of her debut album I Believe You Liar – and three years of solid touring – drove Washington to exhaustion. Fortunately, she’s back and ready to do it all again with her Insomnia, a release subtle yet potent in its eight captivating tracks.

Insomnia kicks into gear with Holy Moses, a dynamite, jungle-drum swagger simmering with kazoo-charged choir. Holy Moses is undoubtedly among Insomnia’s highlights, the opener packing a punch instantaneously, generating great expectations for the rest of the release. Its follow-up provides both another key highlight and a point of difference, the spirited Plastic Bag showcasing the sunnier side of Washington’s craft. “I don’t believe in making plans, I carry my life in a plastic bag. I’ve got no one that I’m thinking of, I only believe you are what you love,” she declares, a boundless optimism in full swing in spite of a series of strangely cryptic verses. The tail-end of the chorus conceals the song’s greatest reward, Washington’s ascending vocal refrain proving irresistible. Plastic Bag provides a nice burst of joy to subvert the venom of Insomnia’s early stages.

The rest of release offers a calculated departure from the likes of Holy Moses and Plastic Bag, yielding a sweetly intimate affair with few elements to cloud Washington’s arresting sentiments. Whereas Insomnia appeared destined to follow a more pop-oriented approach, the release actually turns expectations upside down. The rest of its six tracks revolved around piano-fuelled and warmly orchestrated compositions, a string-section emerging invaluable in conducting much of the mini-album’s allure. Fittingly, such delicate instrumentation reflects the emotional climate. Sentimental Education, in particular, proves utterly heartbreaking. “You sleep seven streets away from me – I went to see you, you were sucking on her neck and didn’t see,” laments Washington. Fortunately, the hospitable Letterbox soon restores hope and a few vaguely romantic undertones.

Few are able to indulge in the luxury of switching freely between striking pop sensibilities and such disarming intimacy, though Washington has successfully captured the best of both worlds with Insomnia. Though it’s reasonable to lament the mini-album’s departure from its obvious pop splendours, persistence with the its more gentle, vulnerable offerings does pay off. Overall, Insomnia ultimately emerges a strongly satisfying follow-up to I Believe You Liar.