“stay close by,” the first single from Tamar Berk’s new album ocd, is reviewed and there’s a video too

By Henry Lipput

ocd is Tamar Berk’s fifth album in five years and like her other four albums this one is self-released. It's out on September 5^th and available to preorder here.

According to Berk, the new album feels like her most personal and intense yet. “It’s raw, loud, messy, sometimes funny, sometimes devastating – just like my mind," she has said. “I called it ocd because I live in loops and overthink everything, but writing these songs helped me make a little sense out of that.”

The first single, and the first track on the album, “stay close by,” explores the idea of all the things we say we’ll do, things we think about but never quite get around to. And for me the fuzz that permeates its sound reflects the inability to move on, to even, as she sings in the song, do the most basic things like “get high” or “go for a ride.”  Lyrically and sonically the song gives on the feeling of being overcome by one’s world. "Stay close," she's singing, as she implores a friend to help her through difficult times.

The video gives an answer of sorts as it's the being out in the world and listening and playing music that gives her the ability to go on. And isn't it music that helps us to get through the fuzz and the brain clouds and helps us to go on?