Dutch singer-songwriter Celine Cairo has released her third studio album Panacea and the themes of “growth, surrender and feeling truly alive” are woven throughout.
The album opens with the title track Panacea and we’re given a gentle introduction to Cairo’s gravelly vocal with pared-back guitar plucks providing the sole accompaniment to her delicate tones. As the track progresses the layers build as gentle keys and ethereal strings combine with the airy harmonies. It’s a powerful track where the seeds of the album’s themes of growth and self-acceptance begin to sprout. Lyrics such as “and I felt the current flow moving through me like an antidote, my head’s above the water now” drive home the feeling of clarity before the harmonies and instrumentals soar and reach their climax.
Following a brief interlude to reset, Cycles, with its ethereal nature combines magical-sounding strings with a heavier beat that lends the track an extra layer of intensity. The beat ebbs and flows, itself like a cycle, as we progress from one part of the track to another.
Woman is a downtempo ode that allows Cairo’s gentle vocal to shine against the stripped back guitar plucks. She switches effortlessly between deep notes and angelic highs as she sings “woman, you know the journey’s just begun, we start anew with every sun rise so come on down.” The positivity and peace within the track really shine through.
Feel is almost a track of two parts as the intro is hugely pared back: just Cairo’s angelic tones accompanied by minimal guitar plucks. But before we know it the beat kicks in and haunting harmonies wend their way through the layered soundscape. The peaks and troughs create a wonderful crescendo where Cairo allows herself to “lose myself to feel” and allows her vocal to be guided by the nature of the track.
The gripping Paris transports you to the magical city with its serene melody that offsets Cairo’s ethereal vocal perfectly. There’s a melancholy feel to the track with its slow pace, wistful keys and soaring electronic elements. The chorus of “Now my roots are laid bare, sunlight’s creeping to the top of my hair. Am I falling into you? Oh god I got everything to lose” is haunting and makes you wonder what stories the streets of the Parisienne capital have to tell.
Keys are predominant again on The Great Divide, which possesses a slightly more chipper melody. The acoustic guitar strums kick in along with the angelic harmonies. A track about a relationship coming to an end and both parties going their separate ways, Cairo looks within to understand her role in the situation and how to move on and grow.
Vertigo stands out with its steady drum beat, almost like a heartbeat, that then progresses into a layered soundscape combining keys, guitars and electronic flourishes. Cairo’s vocal really peaks as she harmonises and she allows her voice to soar following the addictive chorus of “summer to fall, water to snow, sand to stone. Everything’s in motion and I’m in vertigo.”
Following the rush of Vertigo, we gently slide into I Am I. Again, another heavy beat, this time with a bit of an off-kilter edge, lures us in before the track starts to bloom. We’re treated to more of an indie sound with the heavy percussion and guitar strums and Cairo’s vocal melds beautifully with the accompaniment and the chorus of “some people wait for a lifetime to come on down in the moonlight, if there’s one thing I know to be true, I am I, I am you” allows for plenty of personal interpretation.
The Coral Skies interlude allows us a moment to transition from the 90s, Moby-influenced I Am I to Coral Skies proper. This is another multi-layered ballad where Cairo’s gentle vocal reaches some angelic high notes and the track is uplifting with lyrics such as “there’s a light to your love that I’ve never seen before.” We’ve gone from heartbreak to the joy of new love and the synth outro really elevates the track, making it a stand out on the album.
Panacea is brought to a close with Swallows, a downtempo and contemplative track where harmonies and pared-back guitar strums combine to beautiful lyrics such as “swallows coming back in spring, like the breath I’ve been holding in.” Sea-faring folk would believe that seeing a swallow means that land is near so they were symbols of hope and a journey’s end. Cairo summed it up when she said “It’s the perfect symbol of what this song means to me – a reminder that even when you can’t always see it, land is near, and you just might be home soon.”
When speaking of Panacea Celine Cairo said “Panacea reflects on the paradox of our endless search for happiness. The harder we try to ‘heal’ and better ourselves, the farther we find ourselves from inner peace. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety my whole adult life, and in recent years found relief in letting go of that insatiable search for happiness and peace. I hope these songs bring some compassion and a sense of relief to listeners – that we are enough, and that the idea that there’s something inherently wrong with us is simply not true.”
Born in Amsterdam, Cairo’s international musical career has developed independently over the past decade and she’s so far amassed over 45 million streams and had her music appear on U.S tv series such as Love, Victor, Queen Sugar and Walker, Texas Ranger. Cairo’s also sold out shows at Paradiso, TivoliVredenburg and the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, as well as having opened for Birdy, HAEVN and Ásgeir.
Panacea is available to steam now. Find out more about Celine Cairo here and have a listen to Panacea below.