F4MIL7 - "Ondine" - Album Review

Shane Laures
Jul 23, 2024
3 min read

Artist: F4mil7

(pronounced "Family")

Album: Ondine (2022)

Genre: Hybrid blend of EDM and Live Instruments

Length: 4 Tracks

(16 Min 42 Sec)

Lyrical Content: 7.8/10

Conscious %: 7.5/10

Originality: 8/10

Personal Rating: 7.5/10

Tempo Range:

This is the first of 4 EPs by F4mil7 taking place in the fantasy world lead singer Laura is crafting in her as-of-yet unreleased book. Each album takes the life and perspective of a character in the story. This is Ondine's story.

Starting out the album is a track called "Delivered". It begins slow and soft, with some keys and synth. As the drum beat starts up like a subtle heartbeat, Laura's voice begins to mesmerize us singing of the magic of realizing the music within ourselves.

It’s hard to explain, What happens when I sing, It’s a mystery, it’s alchemy, It’s witchcraft, it’s chemistry, And everything in between

The chorus drops with burst of energy and some powerful vocals.

Open up, release the pain and the fear, And I am delivered

As the beat slows back down, we are taken to church as Laura continues with the mystical feeling of a spiritual transformation.

When it comes together and it’s feeling so right A spirit is moving all down my spine I stand up when I find my truest self There is nothing else...

As the bridge takes hold we are enveloped in a chorus of soul-stirring cries before the beat drops again with an electric dubstep vigor. The energy calms back down and Laura sings out the last verse with beautiful grace.

Everything broken has been mended And everything that I neglected now has been tended All because I sing And I am delivered

Track 2, "Mirror" comes in with a hypnotic ambient beat laced with bird calls.

Mirror, mirror, I seek your knowledge, though it might leave a welt, I’m tired of waiting, I just need an answer, so I can console myself. And I’m trying to see what I want to believe, but life’s never been kind to me, Just tell me what will be

The beat drops into some funky weebs and wubs, before breaking back down into a melodic trance. As the second verse wraps up and we close in on the end we get another taste of the dubby goodness.

"Poisonous Fruit" starts with a subtle chanting before bringing the fire in the form of a hard-hitting electric drop.

Searching for water I look for danger I'm nobody's daughter and you are a stranger

Pulsing with life like the blood through Ondine's veins, the energy of this song is charged, bringing the feeling behind the words alive.

The red on your chest tells me everything I need know about you So I'm holding my breath in the shadows and plotting my next move I should be running but I can't stop staring

Trusting our instincts is something all of us must learn, while also coming to terms with our natural curiosity.

I have been told to follow just one rule Don't fall victim to poisonous fruit

This simple line is a perfect rule of life. There will be temptations and deceptions along the way, so remain vigilant and use your discernment.

Ending the album is "Eventide", a mellow tinkering lo-fi track. With a gentle and etheric mood, the vocals enter.

Eventide, The day dies, Eventide, The day dies, All day long I try, Then it's Eventide...

Slow and melodic, Laura's voice is like a lullaby.

Sweet grass bends Sleepy heads In the eventide And first light I’ll sing you to sleep

This final song is perhaps the most mysterious to me. Lyrically we don't learn much of the situation. Musically it feels melancholy. Overall I enjoyed this album musically, but the lyrics left me curious. We'll have to wait until Laura releases her book to fill in the blanks and answer the questions this album arises about Ondine.

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