Bess Atwell - “All You Can Do”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Nilufer Yanya, Sharon Van Etten, Weyes Blood

UK artist Bess Atwell followed up her debut EP Big Blue in 2021 with full-length Already, Always, a strong continuation of emotive performance and heart-worn songwriting. Note how Atwell is letting a little more space in her music here while still dipping into chillwave and building instrumentation for a well-rounded sound (“All You Can Do”, “How Do You Leave”). These tangents add nicely to Atwell’s base sound that could be unraveled to just an acoustic guitar and her beautiful, low vocals and still hold strong. Expressing sadness with either a whisper or open voice, Already, Always shows Atwell reflecting love lost in a sea of complex, musical beauty. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Bess Atwell’s textured, dynamic take on melancholy pop/rock evolves quiet, folk-based sounds to a bubbling passion. Her latest release is 2019 EP Big Blue, a warm five-song collection broadened with some cinematic beauty and minimal chillwave space. There’s an echoing quality to the guitar and synth lines that encompass Atwell’s generally low-register music, a canyon that suits the Brighton, UK singer-songwriter’s equally low, rich alto vocal perfectly. While moody in its composition, Atwell music isn’t outright sad, rather it is more dreamy but within a beach-ready atmosphere. Slow, building drama highlights singles “Cherry Baby” and “Swimming Pools”, budding numbers understated in tone but full of emotional resonance.