Pretty Things - Athena Single Review
Photo By:Bob Rose
Single Review
Athena is due to re-release her debut album, 'Breathe with Me' in April on the back of a sudden interest in her work, and 'Pretty Things' is the 3 minute folky sample chosen to promote it. As it is, it should do rather a good job, as 180 seconds of calm folk reflecting the jazz and world music influences you can expect from the rest of the album.
The trouble with the piece is that pleasant as it is, it does little to establish itself in the memory for the three minutes it is present for, and once the guitar stops, so do all thoughts of it. On an album, it would have time to establish itself as part of the mood, but as a single it is likely to struggle: Not catchy or poppy enough to trouble the UK top 20, and not unique and memorable enough to be of interest to musical collectors, it is left as a short, pleasant, but ultimately forgettable piece.
So, as a pop-single, it falls ever so slightly flat, but as a showcase of what to expect on the album though, it does its job. It's unlikely to sell millions of copies, but those that hear it may be inspired to seek out more of the same. The repetitive but intricate guitar, and immaculately delivered vocals point towards an album of the rarest kind - one that appeals both to the easy listening crowd and music enthusiasts of the more exacting kind.