Dutch singer-songwriter Celine Cairo meditates on growth, surrender and truly feeling alive on Panacea – her eagerly-awaited 3^rd album.

A REMEDY FOR ALL DIFFICULTIES

It seems an age since Panacea, the title track and lead single from the 3^rd album from up-and-coming Dutch singer-songwriter Celine Cairo floated across the At The Barrier desk.  In fact, it was early January and, when it arrived with us, the single caused quite a stir.  We described the song as: “…4-plus minutes of mellow, satisfying sophistication,” and we bemoaned the prospect of a 5-month wait before we could get to grips with the parent album.

Well – that 5-month wait is over.  Panacea – the album – is now with us and, you know what?  That wait has been worthwhile.  Described as: “A meditation on growth, surrender and truly feeling alive,” Panacea is everything that we were led to expect.  The title means: “a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases” and that title really does capture the album’s searching quality and the sense of release that the songs convey.

45 MILLION STREAMS

Speaking of the themes that shaped the album, Celine says: “Panacea reflects on the paradox of our endless search for happiness.  The harder we try to ‘heal’ and better ourselves, the farther we find ourselves from inner peace.  I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety my whole adult life and, in recent years, found relief in letting go of that insatiable search for happiness and peace.  I hope that these songs bring some compassion and a sense of relief to listeners – that we are enough, and that the idea that there’s something inherently wrong with us is simply not true.”

Born and based in Amsterdam, Celine Cairo has, for the past ten years or so, been steadily building an international reputation.  Her signature blend of indie-folk and cinematic chamber pop has attracted listeners from all over the world; her music has received over 45 million streams and has featured in numerous US television series.  As a live performer, she’s appeared at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw.  Celine’s music has been described as “quietly compelling” and, on the evidence of Panacea, that’s a tag that pretty well hits the bullseye.

INTENSE-YET-VULNERABLE

It’s the album’s title track that gets Panacea underway and, it’s true to say, time has mellowed this thoughtful, polished song even further.  It’s a song that sets the template for the album, with fingerpicked guitar and India Bourne’s orchestration all in perfect balance with Celine’s intense-yet-vulnerable voice.

A brief interlude of slow, ambient piano and strings provides a bridge to the easy, fulfilling Cycles.  Celine’s emotion-laden voice conveys the notes of optimism hidden within her lyrics, as she accompanies herself on piano, whilst synth and strings round off the production with a layer of smoothness.

Speaking of Woman, the second – and most recent – single to be taken from the album, Celine says: “Woman is about living life to the fullest and daring to start over, again and again.  I see that courage so clearly in my grandmother – she embodies the spirit of the song for me.”  The song is a slow-building ballad that packs a subtle punch.  Celine’s voice is gentle, but laced with a determination that sticks around, even as the backing gathers power, from a simple, strummed acoustic guitar, to full band, to band plus orchestra.

NEW DEPTHS

The assuredness and charm of Celine’s voice is a constant feature of Panacea, and that’s particularly the case for Feel, a song that’s an interesting mix of other-worldly electronica, folky guitars and disco rhythms.  And it remains so for the delightful Paris.  In another of her intimate piano ballads, Celine recalls her experiences from a short visit to La Ville Lumière and, in doing so, reveals new depths to her voice that she’d, hitherto, kept under wraps.

And the accomplished vocal performances just keep on coming, as Celine charms her listeners yet again, with The Great Divide.  Resonant bass and a solid – yet unintrusive – drumbeat provide a compelling drive in a song that Celine manages to deliver both powerfully and tenderly.

Celine describes Vertigo as: “…the album’s sultry late-night moment,” and she’s got a point.  It’s another song that builds nicely; the guitars set the agenda, with a pulsing rhythm and the band follow suit.  It’s even danceable – yet, still, the focus isn’t shifted away from Celine’s voice, the feature that sits at the centre of everything, throughout the album.

THERE IS NO PANACEA…

Apparently inspired by Moby’s early work, I Am I is as light as the air that surrounds it.  Celine’s voice drifts high above the sparkling electronics and the pattering drumbeat, as she assures us: “I am I; I am you.”  And the synths stick around as they contribute the short burst of ambient bliss that introduces Coral Skies, the album’s: “one unguarded love song.”  It’s a song with a lot of warmth, with rich bass providing the counterpoint to Celine’s impassioned, dreamlike vocals.  And the synth-led outro rounds things off nicely – it’s an album highlight.

Written by Celine and a couple of guitarist friends, Swallows is a tender, folky song that provides the perfect ending to Panacea.  “I chose to end the album with this song because it embraces the idea of the wider album – there is no panacea, other than to embrace change and uncertainty,” says Celine.  “I later found out that, historically, people at sea believed that seeing a swallow meant land was near.  It’s the perfect symbol of what this song means to me – a reminder that even when you can’t always see it, land is near, and you just might be home soon.”  Celine’s breathy vocals are accompanied by a pair of acoustic guitars as she delivers her message – it’s a pleasant, summery, way to close an engaging album.

Celine Cairo: Website

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