Consisting of ten tracks from her youth to today, London’s pb hits our pages for the first time with her album neither prose nor poetry.

By Graeme Smith

Pb, real name Phoebe Workman, is a British-American singer songwriter who has a penchant for bringing elements of folk to her personal, melancholic style. Her new album showcases the range of what she has to offer, and is a collection of her notable tracks to date, including previously released singles Simplicity, Found and Out Of My Element.

It’s Simplicity that starts things off and we are instantly drawn into pb’s light yet moody world. A rousing folk arrangement sets the tone while her vocals float ethereally over it, delivering a wistfully romantic story. It’s a captivating start.

From there we get nine more tracks of delicate introspection, philosophical jauntiness, and cinematic vulnerability. I Miss My Accent provides a dark and contemplative acoustic moment while Roses and Baby’s-Breath lightens things through strummed strings and dreamy poetry.

Lead single Found sits as a jewel in the album’s late running. Things build through a simmering first verse rich with folk sensibilities and pb’s vocals are at their most soulful. Lingering strings grow the atmosphere before the track arrives at a sweeping climax.

The album is wrapped up by the mournful, piano-led Searching For New, the intimate and ambient peonies for pb and My Own Way. The latter closes the album with an experimental highlight which slowly transforms from brooding instrumental to life-affirming acoustic rock.

There are plenty of acoustic singer-songwriters out there, and what separates the memorable ones from the others is how much of themselves they put into their music. Pb has poured her heart and soul into her album and the result is a collection that will have you feeling along to each of its relatable stories.

Neither prose nor poetry is out now and you can check it out below.