Emerging from a humble shed in Southend-on-Sea, UK, multi-instrumentalist Emma Reed (aka Pettaluck) delivers “Pan”, a gloriously eccentric album that transforms personal struggles into a vibrant tapestry of sound. Following her debut Pass, this sophomore effort sees Reed expanding her sonic palette with woodwinds, gabber beats, and maximalist arrangements, crafting what might be 2024’s most unexpectedly uplifting meditation on isolation and recovery.
“Pan” dances across genres with joyful abandon – one moment channeling Rocket From the Crypt’s punk energy (“Snake Oil”), the next drifting into ambient soundscapes (“Divine”). The album’s true magic lies in how Reed balances weighty themes (parental isolation, long COVID) with playful experimentation. Standout “Baby Blue” mashes chill gabber beats against lyrical vulnerability, while the reworked Lost Harbours cover “Into the Woods” bridges her musical past and present.
Reed’s artistic philosophy shines throughout: “The truth is messy,” she declares, embracing imperfections as part of life’s beautiful chaos. This ethos manifests in the album’s warm, organic production – woodwinds swell unexpectedly, rhythms stutter purposefully, and Reed’s vocals oscillate between whispered confession and triumphant declaration.
“Pan” is that rare album that makes profundity feel like play. Pettaluck has created not just a collection of songs, but a worldview – one where healing begins with celebrating our beautifully flawed humanity.
