WANDERING

Dawdle, fresh off of her 2243 album Playing Dead, had excused herself from public life, seeking shelter in the Northern Hemisphere of Akerwood, where deciduous trees are plentiful, and the leaf-peeping is beyond reproach. Nestled into her hollowed treehouse, Dawdle was content to pass the time in solitude, taking up hiking in the mornings, tea in the afternoon, and delicious cheese plates at night. It was here that she escaped the chaos of her sudden fame. Playing Dead was a breakout hit in a sleepy-toned field, elevating it above the monikers that the Relaxercise Movement had self-imposed. Fearing that the masses would demand too much of her, she crept to Akerwood and decided to hide herself away for the time being. Maybe music would never percolate inside her brain, but her decision to bring her synthesizer and electronic drum kit was just one of the many signs that a follow-up was just around the corner. Without Purpose or Direction was a cathartic balance of anxiety and bliss. Based upon the directionless walks she would take through the forest, the album shocked fans with her evolutionary turn. Not unheard of, but most artists are stuck in the mire of their style. Dawdle was adamant about building upon her foundation on Playing Dead, employing her dreamy and bright tones with distorted drumbeats and thumping, hidden basslines. Without Purpose or Direction, however, did not save her from the forest, per se, she made it her permanent home and, in a disappointing move, cancelled any hopes of future touring. The decision was twofold: first, to maintain her secluded lifestyle, and second, to allow her to continue creating music without pressure. The trees captured what would have otherwise pushed her to abandon her creativity and inspired her through the sneaky beams of light and the wistful, falling leaves. Without Purpose or Direction is a masterclass in transporting the listener right into the cozy inner sanctum she worked so hard to build, and one would be hard-pressed to find another home as welcoming and as tasty as the beats within.