Paper Castles

Released in 2019, Paper Castles is the second full-length studio effort from South African-born, Berlin-based artist Alice Phoebe Lou. Following her debut Orbit, this album represents a significant refinement of her 'cosmic folk' sound, integrating more pronounced jazz influences and a sophisticated sense of space. Recorded with a live-band feel, the album emphasizes analog textures and vintage equipment, moving away from the more traditional folk structures of her busking roots toward something more avant-garde and art-pop leaning. The record was notably self-released, reflecting Lou's staunchly independent ethos. Lyrically, the album explores themes of autonomy, femininity, and the natural world, particularly on tracks like 'Skin Crawl' and 'Fynbos'. It received critical acclaim for its atmosphere and Lou's unique vocal delivery, eventually landing on several year-end best-of lists, including NBHAP. It remains a definitive document of the Berlin indie-folk scene of the late 2010s.