“Take my things and close the door / I’m not gonna come around“
healthyliving’s three members are already experienced. Spanish singer Amaya López-Carromero is better known for her piano-driven, ethereal-neoclassical project maud the moth. Scott McLean handles guitars, playing in two heavy Scottish bands (the relatively new and hyped Ashenspire, and the venerable Falloch). Stefan Pötzsch brings the drums from Germany, pinning healthyliving to another corner of a big map. Such a remote project is now commonplace in the post-2020 music-scape. On Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief, the trio go back to basics, writing powerful, tasteful alternative rock songs with influence from doom and noise.
Having seen López-Carromero perform solo (in support of Kayo Dot, who are a clear influence on her main project maud the moth), I already knew of her incredible vocal talent. This becomes healthyliving’s key selling point, as the songs are fully optimised for enthralling singing performance. Take the single “Galleries”, a melancholic track with subtle verses and doomy choruses. Her voice picks memorable melodies that match the steady tempo. So far, so beautiful – but at the bridge, she releases the tension from her voice, bursting through the cloudy atmosphere up to an incredible pitch. The lyrics become wordless, beckoning the song’s return trajectory. It concludes as it began, but will leave you thoroughly moved in the process. Other incredible performances are found on “To The Fields”, a structurally intriguing track whose explosive climax emerges from restrained guitar. “To The Gallows” is the heaviest track, the whole band becoming “metal” for just long enough to support unhinged vocals in its verses.
Besides these brilliant vocals, healthyliving’s other key trait is the simplicity of their compositions. Compared to the weird projects the members come from, healthyliving stick to straightforward riffs and uncluttered sonic staging. They know what to do to keep things direct, which means they don’t go for needless chorus #3, instead concluding songs gracefully. There’s plenty of quiet moments where you can bask in the simple pleasure of a nicely progressing riff, such as on “Back to Back” or “Obey”. There are some tracks which feel lacklustre, needing a few more complexities to become compelling to me. This is more apparent on the faster tracks, such as two openers “Until” and “Dream Hive”, which are lively yet unremarkable alt-rock songs. “Until” is a full re-record from its first release as a 2021 single, so it’s nice to hear it with a proper mix. Perhaps these were kept deliberately more accessible, as other simple tracks like “Ghost Limbs” completely land for me. Among the short songs, “Bloom” works particular works well by keeping its verses in an ambiguous mood. In its choruses, the driving beat gives it an air of finality, sounding like a perfect set-closer if I’ve ever heard one.
Overall, the restrained approach taken by healthyliving is very much welcome in the alternative music scene of 2023. The tracks “Galleries” and “Bloom” are must hear this spring. They have “just said no” to the arms-race of over-production, and made marvels out of ‘mundane’ fundamentals and excellent performances. Whilst those familiar with McLean and López-Carromero’s previous work will enjoy Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief, healthyliving provides mainstream appeal that merits wide appreciation.
7.5/10
Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief releases April 7th and can be pre-ordered via their Bandcamp page.