'Goodnight Summerland' by Helena Deland

Written by Ashleigh Koehn

November 3rd, 2023

Goodnight Summerland is an impressive new release from Montreal-based singer songwriter Helena Deland on the 13th of October 2023. The album eloquently paints a tapestry of the complexities of the human condition and subtly reveals the beauty of the natural world we live in with elegant lyricism and dynamic progressions. Written and recorded after the loss of Deland's mother the album presents itself as a tearful hug holding the harsh realities of sorrow, but learning to let go.

The musical journey introduces itself with an enchanting instrumental piano track titled "Moon Pith" that floats among the clouds and expresses the gorgeously simplistic mood of the album. Her soft like silk vocals arrive on the second track "Say Something" which enraptures the heart and communicates the difficulties of longing to connect with those who are no longer there. Each track flows into each other like a peaceful river bubbling with unique sounds and pure poetry. Slowly the melodic message morphs from grief to appreciation with its final track titled "Strawberry Moon" that identifies the memories cherished, and learning to open the door to love again.

This new record from Helena, inspired by song writing style of Joni Mitchell and Vashti Bunyan, departs from her more experimental direction with a raw simplistic expression of her art and is an album to get lost in.