Miguel Maravilla’s Growth and Learning are on Full Display on ‘Always’

Expansive and spacious, Vancouver singer-songwriter Miguel Maravilla’s latest album finds the artist relinquishing control of a project nearly a decade in the making. Always is the definitive version of a record that has been previously sequenced, re-sequenced, and released in various permutations, including prior EP and LP formats. While longtime listeners will pick up on the inherent familiarity of Always, these songs have lived, breathed, and matured alongside the artist, making this newest release more than just a deluxe version of its predecessor.

Each iteration of this project exercises boundless malleability as Miguel shapes the word, “always” into a foundational theme that steers each and every moment. Over these 21 expanded and remixed tracks, the conceit is re-contextualized in myriad ways—often multiple times within the same song.

Through a flurry of beat changes, switch-ups, fade outs, and drop outs, Miguel’s centred approach means the album’s concept is always within reach to guide listeners along. Warm, multilayered vocals pair with acoustic guitar and creative electronic manipulations, forming a lush and meditative listening experience that continually mines depth out of its central motif. 

Compared to previous versions of Always, this latest cut refines the overall mix. Miguel dialled things back and breathed more air into the instrumentals, resulting in consistently lush tones throughout the record. More than its mix however, this particular sequence of songs avoids sounding too familiar thanks to the creative ways in which Miguel layers existing tracks with new approaches and ideas. It avoids sounding workshopped and instead comes across as meticulously curated.

What’s brilliant about Miguel Maravilla’s approach to bedroom pop is that revisiting these songs never seem to depreciate their content or message. There is no generational loss, but instead growth and learning are on full display. It’s tough to picture a clear and definitive end to this project, but Always stands on its own as the best of what the series has to offer.