GENRE; Commercial Pop/ Dark-Pop/ Pop
RELEASE DATE; 26 January, 2026
RATING; 4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some albums feel carefully engineered. Under The Surface feels lived through. Hilla Peer’s latest project is the result of two years spent writing, recording, and quietly working through a period of personal upheaval. What comes through most clearly is not the struggle itself, but what followed it—clarity, acceptance, and a renewed way of looking at life. The album unfolds at its own pace, never rushing to impress, and that patience becomes one of its greatest strengths. Peer’s sound sits comfortably within indie-pop, but it rarely stays in one place. Acoustic moments drift into atmospheric textures, while subtle electronic elements and traces of soul and R&B add emotional weight without overwhelming the songs.
At the beginning of the album “Under The Surface “ comes with the line, “No one knows what goes under the surface, no one,” a quiet confession that perfectly captures the record’s emotional core, reminding us how much of our inner lives remain unseen, even by those closest to us. The production is detailed yet restrained, giving space to her voice, which carries a gentle confidence throughout. In “Hide & Seek”, the line “In this game of hide and seek, I’ll always play my part” quietly captures the emotional push and pull of connection, showing a willingness to stay present even when things feel uncertain. There’s an unforced quality here, nothing feels exaggerated or overly polished, and that natural balance makes the listening experience feel deeply personal. Half of the tracks had already been introduced as singles, but hearing them alongside the previously unreleased songs reveals the album’s full shape. One standout moment comes in the track “Start Over” where Hilla Peer urges, “Think about second chance, think about the life you want over” ,capturing the album’s theme of reflection and renewal in just a few words.”
Each track stands on its own, yet together they form a coherent emotional journey. In tracks like “Airport,’ Peer captures fleeting moments of movement and uncertainty “He took his bag, caught a plane, road to nowhere” a line that perfectly encapsulates the restlessness and introspection threading through the album. The writing feels open and unguarded, as if Peer chose honesty over perfection every time. In the end of the album with “Julia,” Peer delivers one of the album’s most tender moments with the line, “I’m grateful I had the chance to know you, I promise I will always remember you,” a simple yet devastating expression of remembrance that captures the album’s emotional sense; quiet gratitude, lingering love, and the way certain people never truly leave us.
Under The Surface, created with producers from Israel and abroad and supported by the ACUM Foundation for the Encouragement of Creativity, is a quietly confident statement from an artist who knows exactly what she wants to say. It doesn’t demand your attention but it earns it. Long after the final track fades, the album leaves behind a feeling that’s hard to shake, reminding you that the most meaningful music often speaks in a calm, human voice.
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