Pearl Charles EP (2015)
Pearl Charles’ self-titled EP isn’t just a nod to the past—it’s a love letter sealed with a modern flourish. Across these six tracks, she effortlessly blends the golden haze of ‘60s folk-pop, Laurel Canyon cool, and the jangly charm of garage rock, all while putting her own stamp on the sound. There’s a timelessness at play here, the kind that makes you wonder if you’ve stumbled upon a lost classic or the start of something special. Turns out, it’s a little bit of both.
From the opening strums, Night & Day feels like it could be a lost hit from the AM radio era, reimagined with just enough contemporary bite. The folky twang, those easygoing harmonies, and the gentle sway of the arrangement all exude a warmth that’s instantly familiar. Just when you think you have it pegged, a modern rock guitar solo rips through, adding a layer of dynamism that keeps it from feeling too nostalgic. It’s a curtain-raiser that sets the tone: Pearl Charles knows her influences inside and out, but she’s not content with just emulating them.
The analog warmth is thick on You Can Change—like the crackle of a well-loved vinyl spinning late into the night. The Hammond organ is the unsung hero, pouring richness into every corner of the mix, while the harmonies lift the song into something otherworldly. It’s warm yet brash, polished yet raw, the kind of track that feels both immediate and effortlessly lived-in.
If The Temptations and The Guess Who collided in a hazy garage-rock jam, it might sound something like Indian Burnout. Charles infuses the track with her signature touch, molding the psychedelic influences into something distinctly her own. It grooves, it glides, and it pulls you right into its retro-futuristic swirl.
Jangly, jaunty, and undeniably catchy, I Ran So Far is a showcase of Pearl’s vocal subtlety. She doesn’t go for flashy theatrics; instead, she plays with tone and delivery in a way that makes it impossible to ignore. There’s an almost surf-rock energy to it, a breezy confidence that makes it feel like a lost gem from a ‘60s jukebox.
Swing beats, Hammond organ swells, and reverb-soaked vocals—What Can I Do has all the makings of a track that could’ve slipped right onto Queen of Jeans’ Dig Yourself without missing a beat. There’s a haunting beauty to the way Pearl’s voice is treated here, floating through the mix like a ghostly echo of the past. And just when you think it can’t get any more vintage, in comes a guitar solo that wouldn’t be out of place on Revolver-era Beatles.
The EP closes on its dreamiest, most expansive note. Idea to Her isn’t just a song—it’s a sonic picture, painted with shadowy harmonies and blissful psychedelia. At over five minutes, it’s the EP’s longest track, but every second feels intentional. It’s less about a destination and more about the journey, floating through a haze of vintage textures and hypnotic melodies.
Pearl Charles’ debut EP is a sun-drenched time capsule, steeped in the harmonies of Joan Baez and Linda Ronstadt while winking at the cinematic melancholy of Lana Del Rey. But what makes it compelling isn’t just the way it wears its influences—it’s the way Charles breathes new life into them. The harmonies alone could be studied like an artifact from a bygone era, yet they never feel like mere imitation. There’s a freshness beneath the nostalgia, a sense of playfulness alongside the reverence. In just six tracks, Charles establishes herself as more than just an artist with good taste—she’s an artist with a vision. And while this EP stands as a gorgeous homage to the past, it also plants the seeds for what’s to come. If this was the opening statement, you can’t help but wonder where the story goes next.
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Highlight Songs:
You Can Change
Indian Burnout
Night & Day
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Own it, Stream It, Forget about it?
I am unsure if there was ever physical media released for this EP, but if there was, this EP is a must own.
