Returning with their first album since 2022’s self-titled release, Florist take a more focused and direct approach on Jellywish. Stepping away from the drifting ambient folk textures of their previous work, the Brooklyn-based four-piece deliver ten compact songs – all under four minutes – that are often pretty, yet tinged with melancholy. The core sound revolves around delicately finger-picked guitar and softly played piano, but what truly animates the record is Emily Sprague’s voice. Her vocals bring a gentle gravity to recurring themes of mortality, grief and existential doubt.
The jellyfish, an ancient, drifting creature, serves as a poetic backdrop and subtle metaphor throughout. While the melodies are often sweet, there are moments of shadow: opener »Levitate« pairs Sprague’s wistful lyrics with warmly familiar guitar lines, while »Have Heaven« stands out with its subtle reverb and hauntingly catchy chorus. In tracks like »Jellyfish«, glimmers of light shine through the sadness – »there’s got to be light in the darkness of the night«. With Jellywish, Florist have crafted one of their most poignant and memorable records to date – highly recommended for lovers of gentle yet emotionally resonant indie-folk.
