212. 22 MAKE by Oh Wonder

I previously covered the debut record by this English indie pop duo here. Since that debut, they've released four additional albums, this being the latest. The significance of this record is that it serves as a follow-up to 22 Break (released in late 2021), which is their self-professed break-up album. The pandemic and other stressors put a strain on their relationship and they found the recording of 22 Break as cathartic. In the end, they stayed together and 22 Make is the result, i.e., their 2022 make-up album.

The instrumentation is pretty sparse and mellow, allowing the vocals (especially those of Josephine Vander West) to stand out front and center. The tracks I especially like include, 'Sweet Disaster,' '365,' title track/album opener '22 Make,' 'Magnificent' (the piano has a serious Coldplay vibe) and album closer 'Say Something' with its quirky but irresistible synth line.