Period Piece

For more than a decade, V.V. Lightbody has been a vital presence in Chicago’s indie scene, and Period Piece feels like a real step forward. Her third LP is a sharp, intimate look at anxiety, aging, love, divination, and self-worth, carried by her frank writing and a newly confident turn as lead producer.

The sound is rich but light on its feet: tucked-away backing vocals, swirling guitars, chugging bass, and melodic flutes moving between 70s Brazilian samba and contemporary electro-pop. It’s playful, pristine, and full of character, with a feel somewhere around Cate Le Bon wandering through an overgrown meadow.

Dave Vettraino adds production and mixing support, while friends including Macie Stewart, Sam Cantor, Emma Hospelhorn, Jack Henry Lickerman, and Cassandra Jenkins help bring the whole thing to life.