charlie hilton: palana

As we age, a growing and ever changing identity is something we never shake. The distance between the magic and awe of a child's mind to the mentality of a teenager is palpable. When you hit your 20s, it's safe to say a few things are different from that time you were 16. Though she maintains some reservations about the implications of something as abstract as identity, Charlie Hilton, known up until now for her work in the band Blouse, has now forged a new one with her debut solo album, Palana. Enlisting Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait as producer, Hilton freely experimented with diverse sounds and moods - some minimal and some cacophonous - out of the confines of a band structure. Funny Anyway is truly stark, featuring only string accompaniments, with Hilton assuming a role akin to a confessional French chanteuse, while Let's Go to a Party is Hilton's cheeky take on an icy dance track with thick, bouncing synths and a chorus that echoes "I'm only happy when I'm dancing." Alternatively, tracks like Pony harken back to the psychedelic strengths of Blouse, saluting bands like Broadcast and United States of America, and then there's 100 Million, the sole track produced by Woods' Jarvis Taveniere that rounds out the album in a soft, acoustic and light-hearted way with labelmate Mac DeMarco lending his talents on percussion and back-up vocals.