Hand Habits

Meg Duffy is one of indie rock’s great connectors and doers, an astonishing multi-instrumentalist with unwavering taste who is also a striking songwriter, pairing complete candor with magnetic hooks. A decade ago, just as Duffy released their first album as Hand Habits, they began to emerge as a collaborator on a stunning series of records—The War on Drugs’ A Deeper Understanding, Kevin Morby’s City Music, and Weyes Blood’s Front Row Seat to Earth. During the intervening years, Duffy has remained a linchpin within indie rock, whether touring and recording with Perfume Genius or contributing to records by the likes of Hurray for the Riff Raff, Sylvan Esso, or William Tyler. As Hand Habits, they have also cut work with Claire Rousay, Ryan Hemsworth, and Matt Berninger.

In retrospect, so much of that seems like a preparatory preamble for Blue Reminder, Duffy’s most winning and radiant album yet as Hand Habits. In the past, Duffy has often navigated the travails of romantic hope and loss, rendering feelings inside of bracing country-rock that felt like the flash of a firefly across a night sky. But on Blue Reminder, made as Duffy fell into something like domestic bliss, they celebrate a deeper and more steadfast connection, how the whole world can seem to swim in Technicolor when a relationship feels right. “Will you take me as I am?” Duffy sings, their voice stretching like Aimee Mann’s over a carousel of piano and acoustic strums. “Oscillating between a woman, a child, and a broken man?” On Blue Reminder, Duffy expands the art-pop glow of their songs, radiating in the real-time joy of discovery.