by Kris Handel
5am is the latest mini-album/EP from Caution's Nora Button under the guise of Despondent, another very strong step in her clouded and confessional songscapes that deliver heavy blows. Button is more stripped down on these recordings, consisting of herself and infrequent drums and percussion by Jaxon Vesely, which heightens the intimacy of Button's tales of disconnect and longing. Her vocals are drenched in reverb and gauze which plays off the distance of her songwriting, but they equally soar and have an entrancing flow and buoyancy that is never less than captivating. Button's use of space and sparsity is one of the strengths of these songs, she is unafraid of mixing moments of vulnerability with a compelling muscle that drives the heavy feelings and uncovered desires.
"In Your Truck" is driven along by weaving guitar fills and Button's double tracked vocals that chime behind a deep fog hanging over the surroundings while still maintaining a sense of wonder and contentment. Her vocals range from a bit of disconnection to chirps of delight which produces a good contrast and plays with an odd sort of warmth and comfort. "Big Lakes" has Button tackling issues of growth and figuring out what one truly desires in the face of making big decisions. She works through multiple issues of relationships that are approaching the verge of collapse, pondering, "Do I like you/or do I hate to sleep alone/do I need you?/or do I just need to be known?" The song is a bit crushing but in the end the lesson of forging forward into the discomfort of the unknown and making decisions that are ultimately for the best are handled with depth and care.
Despondent do a great job utilizing dream-pop/shoegaze as a canvas for expressions of love and problem solving, carrying a simmering intensity that really is worth engaging with. Button's vocals are smooth and shockingly expressive despite being a little recessed and the variations of tone and styles adds for a great deal of depth, moments of reflection, and the embracing of uncertainty. Her songwriting exposes a good deal of fearlessness on multiple levels and a great deal of craft in the poppier moments that really shine while delving into bouts of confusion and disillusionment. This is a recording worth seeking out as Button continues to push herself with a large amount of grace, nerve, and toughness, creating an experience that is quite a bit of fun to ride along with.