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BRYNN ANDRE Releases New Album 'HONEYMOON'


Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Brynn Andre’s 2010 debut showed her

as an important new musical voice, and she’s continued to broaden her

sterling reputation in the decade plus since its release. Her new album

Honeymoon finds her talents expanded in exponential fashion and Andre

approaching her songwriting art with a level of maturity that few

songwriters of her style and age can readily match. Produced by Matt

Patrick, a renowned music mover and shaker in the Minneapolis scene, the

eleven song collection casts a wide net and hauls in ample rewards for

the listener.


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It's an understated sign of confidence that she opens the album with its

title song. “Honeymoon” is a sparsely arranged affair she guides with

piano and strands of keyboards while her voice anchors the song’s

center. Her singing has an airy touch, sweet yet soulful, and helps

bring the track’s abundant specific details to life with aching

sensitivity. The deliberate pacing of the title cut works in its favor.

“Celebrity” benefits from that same attention to lyrical detail and

boasts a striding stateliness differing from its predecessor. Andre,

likewise, makes excellent use of a light theatrical edge accented with

dramatic percussion and quicksilver piano and keyboard lines that weave

magic throughout the track.


“Sad”, a single from the album for good reason, introduces subtle

acoustic guitar into the musical mix. Much of the arrangement, however,

continues relying on Andre’s stalwart keyboards and piano. She varies

the texture further, however, with passages with strong percussion that

slips out and then back into listener’s hearing. Alternating between

these two approach gives the song an unique feel. Her eye for

significant detail will continue impressing listeners as well.


Honeymoon’s spartan elegance and high pop sheen continues with “Fertile

Ground”. She opts for electronic percussion here instead of a

traditional drum sound. This works especially well given the surprising

tempo shifts Andre incorporates into the composition; these pacing

adjustments, however, never threaten to radically alter the song.

Touches such as this, instead, deepen the cut’s impact. “Reliable Man”

is a pop gem with atmospherics galore. They are never overwrought,

however, and imbue the arrangement with a stylish sophistication

befitting some of Andre’s most thoughtful lyrics on the release.


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“Strawberry Wine” is a wind-swept mood piece reminiscent of the album’s

more nebulous arrangements. There’s a gossamer-like beauty pervading

many of Honeymoon’s strongest tracks as if they reflect through the

prism of dreams. Another way of hearing them is as if they are

late-night reflections filtered through smoke and moonlight. “Even Love”

concludes the album, however, with soaring piano balladry that acts as a

melodic summation of everything preceding it. Andre returns to her piano

for a final time and gives listeners a emotionally satisfying conclusion

to the release that ties up any loose ends.


Honeymoon is a stunning affirmation of Brynn Andre’s talents and moves

the goal posts for this powerful songwriter. She’s hit upon a winning

formula for pop songwriting excellence that prioritizes speaking about

adult concerns and anyone over the age of thirty will connect with the

substance of these songs. It’s a moving and fulfilling work.


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