REVIEW

he 13th album from Atlanta-based lo-fi dream pop artist Orchid Mantis.

Orchid Mantis is the solo project of singer-songwriter Thomas Howard. Previously known for creating lo-fi, nostalgic indie pop and ambient music that gently lulled listeners into dreamlike states, this release shifts the focus toward the brooding slowcore of the ’90s, evoking artists such as Low, Bedhead, and Codeine.

Guitars drenched in deep reverb ripple like rain in the twilight, while Thomas’s vocals emerge ghostlike from the sparse arrangements. If past works felt like napping in a sunlit meadow, this album might be likened to waking up in a morgue at midnight.

A pervasive cold yet sweet melancholy fills each track, making it ideal for sinking into quietly. Standout track #4 “All The Passing Days” features a funeral-like, wistful melody that quietly turns beautiful memories to ash.

The consistently slow tempo may feel flat to some listeners, but the careful alternation of vocal and instrumental pieces provides subtle rises and falls that maintain interest. The artwork already hinted at something unusual, but the musical transformation exceeded expectations.