On November 1, mxmtoon released her relentlessly vulnerable second album liminal space. The 12-song project finds mxmtoon exploring her faith, the inner complexities of growing up, finding home and yourself in new spaces, and several other challenges you face when learning to become who you are in the modern world.
liminal space is an ambitious step in the indie-pop artist’s career. The album shines across the board with its delicate vocal layering that uplift mxmtoon’s unflinchingly honest lyrics. However, while some songs rely solely on stripped back guitar with limited percussion or baselines, others implement a strong country twang or rocking electric drums. The diversified instrumentation makes the album vary energetically without compromising mxmtoon’s voice or vision. Although there is enough diversity of sounds from track to track to create an engaging listening experience, the tracks are also cohesive enough to fit together within the landscape of the album.
The first track, titled “dramatic escape” serves as a perfectly stripped down introduction to the album, allowing mxmtoon to set up the album thematically right away. The lack of instrumentation makes it impossible to miss the song’s intended ideological impact. She boldly introduces her struggles with self-isolation, learning how to balance instantaneous gratification with long-term growth, and confusion over what comes next in life.
Following the intro is “i hate texas,” a perfect switch up from the minimalistic construction of “dramatic escape” with its country-flair and powerful chorus that balances out the soft approach she takes on each verse. The guitars on each pre-chorus have a slight midwest-emo sound, adding a dynamic rhythmically that is needed with the straightforward flow of the chorus and verse. It has a perfect balance between her bedroom-pop roots and the charming country notes that are brought in by the fiddles and slide guitar throughout the song. These sonic elements are unique in the grand scheme of liminal space, but they hit just right and make “i hate texas” a clear standout from the album.
The closing track “white out” is a perfect conclusion to an album that explores mxmtoon’s newfound sense of confidence and clarity, even in the face of change. The track is assertive while still being admittedly unsure of where she finds herself at the conclusion of hte track. The vocals are soft and piercing, aided by the incredibly executed layering and minimalist instrumentation that create an intricate and comforting atmosphere.
Other standouts include “number one boy,” “just a little,” and “rain.” Each track on the album is integral to the emotional journey that mxmtoon takes us on, a series of visualizers and music videos for the album add an extra layer of understanding for listeners.
The album is available now wherever you get your music, so make sure you don’t miss out on this one! Additionally, mxmtoon is hitting the road in 2025, so make sure you get tickets to see these tracks live here.
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