Album Review
Celene Cairo – Panacea
Panacea is the third album from Dutch singer-songwriter Celine Cairo. Its elegant and haunting musical style sits somewhere between indie-folk and pop, with deep and reflective lyrics that bear careful study. Cairo may not be a well known figure in the UK, but has amassed a sizable international fan base, with over 45 million streams of her work to date.
The album opens with its beautiful title track, a meditation on the search for happiness and the elusive, but never found, solution. The irony here is that the search can itself take us further from the goal of peace. Cycles has a similar feel, the theme here being acceptance of life’s ups and downs. Woman is a slower track, a little repetitive but with strong lyrics and an uplifting feel.
There is musical variety in the second half of the album, with the pop feel of Vertigo and the synth sounds on I Am I, while the lovely Choral Skies is an acoustic love song with Cairo showing an impressive vocal range. The closing Swallows builds over twin acoustic guitars, the theme of starting over coming through strongly. The track builds nicely with a bright summery feel that provides a strong finish to the album.
Celine Cairo is clearly a talented songwriter and her voice is melodic and expressive. The twelve tracks on this album are all carefully constructed and have an emotional impact behind their often gentle sound. They are well crafted and graceful, giving the album a sophisticated feel.
Label: Ivy Records
Release date: 18 June 2026