GENRE | Indie wrapped in blankets

LABEL | No label

RELEASE DATE | Out now

VERDICT | Provides solid re-evaluation advice

There’s something about the combination of soft female voice and acoustic guitar that makes returning to the indie-folk genre easy, even inevitable. Local singer-songwriter Kristina Stapelfeld brings this and much more to the turntable with her debut self-titled album, starting with “Doldrums“. If when watching the video below you recognize the animation style, then you have a good eye. That’s ex-Boston comedian Jamie Loftus‘ work.

The short track is easy-going, framed by imperfect strums and simple imagery such as the fence around the house and rebuilding when things get rough. However, from these pictures painted by Stapelfeld’s voice, comes the song’s core advice: “Keep your heart inside your chest.” It’s sung clear and with harmony so that the listener knows a hurting heart authored this tune. As if the song’s title weren’t already an indicator.

That said, Stapelfeld’s sweet, acoustic background makes “Doldrums” come off like it was written a good while after learning this “guard your heart” lesson. The chord switches are soft. They resolve easily, and you can almost predict where they go in two minutes’ time. Stapelfeld’s guitar and voice sound knowing, wise even. The lyrics are less fresh than they are familiar established, and there must be a fair reason for that. Perhaps, her advice is good advice. Perhaps we, as listeners, can trust it.