Nabihah Iqbal, who was born in London to Pakistani immigrants, is a versatile artist who brings a syncretic approach to her music, infusing it with a sense of place and personal experience. Her second studio album, Dreamer, explores the boundless potential of aspiration during the darkest of times, demonstrating that dreams can guide us forward.
Iqbal’s music dips into shoegaze, cold wave, and 1970s electronica, drawing inspiration from pioneering bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, Slowdive, and the Cocteau Twins, while also forging an unmistakable path of her own. And while her approach isn’t necessarily a transformational leap forward in genre, Dreamer’s 10 tracks guide the listener on a journey through memory, and with one foot firmly anchored in the present.
Although Iqbal demonstrates a profound understanding of genre and influences, Dreamer occasionally only dabbles in these styles rather than fully immerses itself in them. “A Tender Victory” cozies up to shoegaze, while “Gentle Heart” showcases a Kraftwerkian synth arpeggio that yearns for a more distinct, personal touch. Similarly, “Sky River” drifts into a hypnotic, geometrical repetition—less a captivating trance and more a tiresome echo.
Nevertheless, Iqbal’s prowess as a singer and songwriter shines through with richness and depth. Throughout Dreamer, she weaves together themes of love and nature, tenderly enveloping the listener in a world where sunflowers reach for the sun’s embrace, majestic mountains stretch toward the heavens, and hearts seek solace. “My heart will never suffer inside this golden slumber,” she sings on the enchanting title track.
Later, on “Sweet Emotion (Lost in Devotion),” Iqbal navigates the end of a relationship, singing, “I’ll see you through/’Til there’s nothing left of me” and “I’ll wait for you/’Til there’s only darkness.” Here, she lays her soul bare, exposing her capacity for personal sacrifice.
The standout “This World Couldn’t See Us” marries the haunting, romantic darkness of Sylvia Plath with the pulsating energy of Eurythmics’s iconic synth-pop anthem “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” as Iqbal explores the hushed corners of a world where two hearts struggle with the weight of their devotion. The lyrics then take a poignant turn, reflecting a more bittersweet truth: “If death is freedom/Then kill me now.”
On Dreamer, Iqbal triumphs when confronting life’s many faces head-on. Her music resonates with the complexities of love and longing, the interplay of euphoria and sorrow. To dream is to grasp what’s out of reach, the album seems to say, and though we may never catch it, Iqbal demonstrates that the very act of pursuit can ignite a vital spark within.
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