izzi baker - ​Atlantis

izzi baker

​Atlantis
self-released; 2016

​3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Izzi Baker is an artist from Brooklyn who recently released Atlantis. On her Bandcamp page she mentions it’s a “homemade experimental EP.” I can't say I thought the EP was experimental. I think of artists like Ian William Craig and Oneohtrix Point Never​ when the word experimental is used. In my opinion she weaves together elements of R&B, pop and folk. 

Baker has many different vocal styles. She is dynamic, hyperbolic and diverse. Comparisons to Fiona Apple might be in order. Some delivery works better than others. The instrumentation felt clean giving her a lot of space for the vocals to breathe.

Atlantis is a fairly good sounding DIY effort. That being said I felt this style of music really needs high production value that a pro studio can bring to the table. The cracks in the engineering come through in the recordings. There were times when the vocals could have benefited from compression or the guitars could have been more present in the mix. Some of the little things that add up to usual difference between DIY and professional.

The EP opens with “Want Me Back.” A groove revolving acoustic guitar, bass, drums and background vocals emerges. Baker’s vocals are almost too dynamic at times. She starts singing towards the one-minute mark and this is really the sweet spot for her. An impressive vocal performance emerges.  Around three minutes and forty five seconds things get a bit chaotic. She sounds raspy and quickly transitions to a myriad of vocal sections. 

The title track contains more creative music. I thought the percussive elements sounded great. The vocals are good all the way through and especially the vocal harmonies. “Transcendental Love “ is somewhere between funk and R&B. It’s one of the more danceable songs on the EP. 

“Some Like It Raw” and “Funny & Friendly” were catchy tunes while “I Caught The Bus”  may contain the best vocal performance. She closes with ”Born 2 Roll.”

Baker is a good singer who could be a great singer with a little more practice. Even though the production could have improved the vocals I thought there were certain passages where she really shined. 

This is a case where I see a lot of potential. The songs and delivery are solid and I am interested to see if they can take her to the next level on her next effort.

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