It is no secret that I love the idiosyncrasies in life. Moments when company is minimal and talking is optional feed my soul—and these times often come at night. 

Yesterday evening, my computer had found itself perched on my piles of Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines, my LaCroix bubbling softly across the table. The sun set dully behind me, blues and traces of peach striding across the skyline. However, my finger dragged along the screen of my phone, searching for an album to spark creativity. And from within a world I often find myself in, a curated playlist softly reminded me of an artist I had forgotten entirely.

Adam Melchor—whose single “Real Estate” was the anthem of my quarantine last spring—suddenly popped back onto my radar. With a style similar to my wandering ventures of nighttime, Melchor recently released his first full-length album. Including 12 songs, Melchor Lullaby Hotline Vol. 1 immediately satisfied my need for midnight and melodies. 

Though each tune within this collection is divergent from the next, there is a calming and sleepy nature that wavers throughout.  Even in those more upbeat songs, something about this album begs to be listened to alone. Everything is continuous and familiar, yet each piece promises a new day and a new parade of imagination. 

“Moon in the Morning” introduces the album through a desperate questioning of what is to come. The song tackles the idea of living on the edge, but neither side of the conflict is as favorable as the lingering has come to be. Like the element of dusk still wavering at daybreak, there is stubbornness towards leaping into morning. Nevertheless, the edge has become restless, and nighttime is no longer an option. 

Another equally memorable track was “Lateral Move,” and is the seventh song on the album. Slightly shifting, this song talks about the length its subject is willing to go to support the one they adore. Whether it be midnight, twilight, or the times in between, there is no limit to the forever of their love. 

Blending limits, the following track melds love with the sounds of summer. Crickets chirp and guitars strum as we are welcomed into “Best Problems,” a simplistic take on the freedom of July. This song felt like laying on dewy grass at sunset, the sky an iridescent shade of teal, and the sounds of nature overwhelming. Our only worries are for the love we hold in these moments, which Melchor communicates eloquently through his lyrical choices. 

Near track 11, the album winds slowly to a close within “itsjustmyheart (voice memo).” Discreetly authentic, this serene ballad once again tackles the struggle of putting yourself on the line for someone else. Without divulging too much, “itsjustmyheart (voice memo)” is one of those songs that cannot be turned away from. It is a lullaby—but the sort that calls about questions on the natures of affection. 

Like all that was previously done, Melchor Lullaby Hotline Vol. 1 winds slowly to sleep on a tranquil note, capping off an angelic collection that signifies the impact of small moments.