Madeline Goldstein – Speaking to the Body

The newest release from Madeline Goldstein Speaking to the Body arrives as a fully realized statement from a Los Angeles vocalist who has been steadily building a following since 2020. This record was made exclusively with hardware instruments, sequenced on a Synclavier PSMT, mixed on an AMS Neve 8424 analog console. That commitment to physical process is audible throughout.

The reference point here is mid-to-late 80s commercial pop, Rather than the synth-inspired music that predates this. Think less minimal synth, more polished studio craft. Goldstein works that territory with confidence rather than reverence.

“1996 Expectations” is the highlight on the album for us. The track one of the darker tracks on the album, and the one where her vocals are most striking. The bassline underneath sits exactly where it needs to and drives the song nicely. “My Own Design” runs close behind; the piercing arp pattern is captivating in a way that’s hard to shake.

We find that the sound design does occasionally repeat itself. For example, the basslines on “You Never Called” and “Eye For An Eye” cover similar ground; however, nothing ever gets stale and only really becomes noticable listening to certain songs next to each other. Goldstein’s presence as a vocalist carries the record through those moments. She’s unmistakably there at all times.

Speaking to the Body was built around anxiety and panic disorder, the album notes say - the music posing questions that the other side of the mind can’t compute. That tension is present in the best moments. It sounds like someone working something out in real time.

Label: Artoffact Records
Released: April 10, 2026

Favorite tracks: 1996 Expectations, My Own Design.