Nan Macmillan submerges us on her world on her recent album From Both Eyes. While Macmillan paints with a delicate brush that incorporates folk music elements and electronica, those synth elements do more to highlight the acoustics than not. Thanks to Macmillan’s plainspoken lyrics and arresting performances, there is something uniquely human about this album — something that it feels like only Macmillan can capture.
A big part of that something is Macmillan’s willingness to confront her own fears, as she does on the expansive “Emerge,” which she discussed with us a few weeks ago. Macmillan brings a tenderness to her entreaty, paired with some otherworldly lyrics, to elevate an all-too-necessary (and all-too-human experience) where it belongs: bordering on the sacred.
Macmillan also turns her piercing vision to the mundane with great effect. “America, Anywhere” takes on a more conversational tone but it’s unusual staccato melody makes its forceful message stand out from the crowd. An indictment of this country’s society delivered with gentle defiance, this is a song that demonstrates Nan Macmillan’s power and is an indicator of the strength of her voice to come. From Both Eyes teaches us to truly look through the eyes of another and find our commonality.