by Kris Handel
WOAH is a quick little follow-up EP from PACKS' Madeline Link, stripped down and vulnerable in the most quirky and endearing ways imaginable. Link's songwriting has its own style and flow, amplified by the sparseness of these eight songs as her vocals range from a tentative creaking quiver to a blissed out wistfulness. Despite the minimalist atmosphere there is a woozy psych-folk haze that surrounds everything through wobbling guitar lines and somewhat non-linear tales. There’s a feeling of reminiscence and appreciation of the past and Link manages to keep everything tied loosely together through the dream-like trip that unfolds.
"Who Will It Be" carries a folky circular guitar line as Link strains in a tale of some sort of romantic competition while her vocals sweep and crackle in a tune that would oddly fit on a record like Skip Spence's Oar. "Don't Go for the Goat's Milk" uses multi-tracked vocals to good and disorienting effect as the tenderness of Link's songwriting really comes to the fore. Throwing out some simple guitar lines that are exactly what’s called for, Link closes out the song with a creaky yet soaring vocal take. Her vocals and guitar slide around enchantingly on "Heaved" which is surprisingly sprightly and a little whimsical, while "FM" is a wistful bit of nostalgia full of memories of that moment music can elicit connection between seemingly random occasions.
The stripped down setting allows for a really warm intimacy and connection with a young artist who has a unique vision to share and indulge in which should be wholly appreciated. Link has repeatedly shown herself to be a musician who makes the seemingly simple into something magical, enveloping, and pretty unique. These little sketches reveal more of themselves than one would generally expect, providing little escapes into a woozy yet delightfully playful listening experience. The exploration and creativity that the proceeding PACKS recordings have in abundance is still very evident, but the solo acoustic approach allows for a little more personal character, playing to the charm to be found in Link's musical world.