Stonechild isn’t as much a revelation as it is an affirmation of the truth – a truth which the singer bears out across the album in fragments, inviting her listeners to construct a full picture for themselves.

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Loud and Quiet

‘Stonechild’ is the California-born Mancunian’s most brooding yet ... and all the more striking for it, conjuring images of environmental decay, doomed romanticism and psychological disaster all set to slithering and insidious musical backdrops.

Poised and spacious, warm and inclusive, and highly provoked, Stonechild is another memorable addition to Hoop's discography.

The pages of Stonechild sometimes read like wives' tales and folklore, but the morals found within should resonate with any modern wanderer.

What it is, is a beautiful record. Which is enough, in these ugly, bitter and twisted times.

‘Stonechild’ is an exercise in top-level songwriting, stately and intelligent.

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4mo

4mo

With subtle electronic production tugging at the edges of her fingerpicked folk, the California singer-songwriter peers at the dark side of motherhood.

The brooding singer has created a knotty and sometimes maddening fifth album that holds some poignant gems.

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Björk's Incel Son

Surprised how much this flew under the radar on this site considering that we seemed to love Memories Are Now (maybe that was partially because it came out early in 2017 and could easily make it to the top of the critics and users best lists?). This thing solves MAN's biggest problem (lack of cohesion) by attaching a solid concept around the perils of motherhood. The honesty is brutal - I mean imagine being a daughter and listening to "Old Fear of Father" - but Hoop's biggest ... read more

MasterCrackfox

Getting back around 4:00 AM I wanted to at least check out one new album for the week. Honestly nothing really came to mind as a must-listen, so I thought I would just try something new, the first thing that stood out, and the album cover of this new album begged for my attention.

I'm glad it grabbed it as well, as Stonechild certainly proved to be worth giving a listen.

I didn't absolutely love the songwriting/lyricism across this record one hundred percent of the time, but it ended up ... read more

WildChameleon

Stonechild is presented as the pinacle of jesca's musical maturity.
First, it may have the best harmonies of this year, without them I don't know if this album would be as good as it is. There is undeniable work here but Stonechild is really less friendly than Memories are now.
I don't completely see where she goes with her lyrics, she includes many micro-sounds and she has some atypical arrangements.

Apart that, this is gorgeous, omg. Every tracks are so detailed, even the friendly ones like ... read more

3y*

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