French musician Melody Prochet has made a long-awaited and luminous return to the music scene. Under her project name Melody's Echo Chamber, she releases 'Unclouded', her first full-length album in six years, on 5th December 2025.
A Radiant Comeback After Personal Storms
This new record arrives after a period marked by significant personal challenges for Prochet, including a serious accident in 2017. 'Unclouded' stands as a testament to her resilience, presenting a collection of songs that feel like stepping into a sun-dappled, enchanted garden. The sound is a sophisticated evolution from her earlier work, weaving together luscious dreampop textures with intricate psychedelic arrangements.
The production, a collaborative effort with Swedish producer Fredrik Swahn of The Amazing, is both expansive and intimate. It creates a sonic world that is balmy and immersive, where shimmering guitars, warm basslines, and Prochet's ethereal, often double-tracked vocals float and intertwine. The overall effect is one of serene beauty and carefully orchestrated harmony.
Crafting an Immersive Sonic Landscape
Unlike the more direct, Kevin Parker-produced sound of her 2012 self-titled debut, 'Unclouded' favours subtlety and layered complexity. The tracks unfold with a patient, organic grace, inviting deep listening. Key elements that define the album's atmosphere include:
- Hypnotic Rhythms: A foundation of steady, often motorik-inspired beats that propel the songs forward.
- Textural Richness: A tapestry of analogue synths, mellotron flutes, and carefully plucked strings.
- Vocal Ambiguity: Prochet's lyrics often feel like half-remembered dreams, adding to the album's mysterious, otherworldly charm.
This is not an album of stark contrasts or jarring moments. Instead, it operates in a realm of soft-focus beauty, where every element feels purposefully placed to cultivate a specific mood of reflective calm and wonder.
The Verdict: A Triumphant and Cohesive Artistic Statement
'Unclouded' is more than just a comeback; it is a confident step forward for Melody Prochet. It consolidates her signature sound while exploring new depths of arrangement and emotional resonance. The album successfully translates a journey from personal turbulence to a state of artistic clarity into a coherent and captivating 45-minute listening experience.
For fans of nuanced psychedelic pop and immersive dreampop, 'Unclouded' is a essential listen. It marks the return of a unique voice in the alternative music landscape, one who has channeled her experiences into a work of remarkable poise and enchanting beauty. The album is available now on all major streaming platforms and in physical formats.
