In addition to hosting an acclaimed morning show twice a week on NTS Radio,
Maria Somerville
makes dreamy, abstract songs that fuse shimmering ambient textures with melodies influenced by pop music and Irish folk. Following a sublime self-released 2019 debut LP, she signed with
4AD
and released ethereal versions of songs recorded by
Unrest
and
Pale Saints
during the '90s.
Luster
, her first full-length for the label, arrived in 2025, after
Somerville
had relocated from Dublin back to the West Coast region of Connemara, where she was originally from. The album feels more fully developed and detailed than her previous work, certainly benefiting from an increased recording budget, yet it also maintains the intimacy of something crafted at home. The album begins with the harp-kissed ambient intro "Réalt," then segues into the swoon-worthy "Projections," which has a patient tempo, steady bass and guitars, and lyrics about having no choice but to hold on to memories of the past, distorting perceptions of reality. "Garden" sounds richer and more post-punk-inspired, and its lyrics reflect a deeper sense of yearning. "Spring" begins with guitar strumming that sounds like it's coming from another room, then gains a trip-hop rhythm and lyrics reflecting on a euphoric romance. The song is graced with the type of expansive, multi-layered production that requires several listens in order to hear every subtle detail. "Violet" doesn't feel quite as enraptured, but it still has a strong hook and a powerful, positive message ("I believe in life and love"). The much more downcast "Up" specifically expresses heartbreak and loneliness, but it sounds so lovely that it isn't depressing, and ultimately it ends up being about realizing that a separation is a chance for rebirth and growth.
is an accomplished, affecting work that finds strength and clarity through introspection and forgiveness. ~ Paul Simpson