With life (and a never ending run of bad politics) seemingly kicking us in the face at all times in recent memory, it feels great to sink yourself into Naima Bock’s solo debut, Giant Palm, as gorgeous an escape as they come. The former Goat Girl member steps out on her own, leaving behind that band’s perfectly dusty post-punk twang in favor of embracing her roots, opting for lush folk and orchestral pop, delivered through an ever changing lens of Brazilian influences (where Bock spent much of her childhood), electronic textures, and stunning classical touches. Every song offers something a bit different, with Bock’s beautiful voice the constant, sitting perfectly in a mix of sweeping strings, woodwinds, choirs, and beyond. Tracks like album stand-out “Toll” offer an ever building mix of acoustic instrumental layers and a genuinely stunning progression, with Bock’s locked in melody at its heart. Her voice is among the most gorgeous we’ve ever known, with an impactful resonance to every word of Bock’s evolving introspection. Her compositions really fuse disparate textures together with grace, the results gentle but nuanced on what could be the year’s best album. - DG