ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Nite Swim,’ Lily & Madeleine Dive Into Darkness

Sisters Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz know how to make an entrance. Their stunning fifth album, Nite Swim, starts gently, the languid piano and violin promising a soothing interlude, but the mellow vibe is promptly shattered by the opening lyric: “I don’t know why you hate me.” And it’s all downhill from there. Embedding disturbing thoughts inside gorgeous folk-pop with sinister expertise, the sisters explore a romantic landscape shaped by desire, anger, and disappointment, crafting striking vignettes that have the staying power of great short stories.

Lily & Madeleine (photo by Anna Doak)

Though both have lovely solo voices, the Indiana siblings specialize in the kind of magical close harmonies often associated with blood relations. This time, Lily & Madeleine get a major assist from Shannon Hayden, who produces, arranges, mixes, plays a variety of instruments (including cello and violin), and shares writing credits with the sisters on every track. If an occasional eruption of howling electric guitar suggests raging inner turmoil, Lily & Madeleine generally exhibit their usual graceful restraint, as if the sole alternative to such cool composure would be a vulgar display of anguish.

Vivid memories of provocative encounters give Nite Swim a tantalizing edge. “What was it that you said outside the hotel room?,” they sigh on “Cologne,” adding, “Seems like the only pastime here is getting bored … I miss the way you danced inside that smoky room,” serving up a sour cocktail of ennui and loneliness. Wistfully replaying a New Year’s Eve when “something sweet” seemed possible, “Rolling Rock” insists, “I’ve been better off alone a long time now,” then admits, “I would trade a lot just to hear the words you never used.”

If the urge to connect is irresistible, it’s tempered by deep ambivalence and even repulsion. Powered by peppy synth, “No Part of Me” ponders toxic feelings, exclaiming, “I know you hate the things that I like about myself / Feels like my love for you’s just sympathy.” Noting that “Love and hate have long been introduced,” the epic title track declares, “I can feel you getting sick of me,” but also, “I wanna know you better.” An unhappy ending awaits, for sure.

Still, their voices blend so beautifully it’s tempting to believe true love must exist somewhere. Nite Swim closes with the soaring “Lost Boys,” which glimpses a better reality, confessing, “When we levitate … I can touch the moon,” only to add, “It’s tragic all the magic I can see when I’m with you.” Clear-eyed and unsparing, Lily & Madeleine are your guides to the dark places of the heart.

Lily & Madeleine’s Nite Swim is out Oct. 6.