EP: Despicable Zee – ‘Atigheh Reimagined’

A captivating, left-field electronic exploration of dual heritage, motherhood and self-autonomy, Oxford-based drummer and producer Despicable Zee (aka Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani) released her third EP Atigheh in 2019. Now, with the help of an eclectic mix of collaborators, Zee has shared a remix of the recording titled Atigheh Reimagined.

Released today (7th Aug) and available to buy on limited edition cassette on bandcamp, the remixes on Atigheh Reimagined are equally as compelling as the original tracks. Keeping the hypnotic qualities of the original, Tiiva’s treatment of opener ‘We Won’t Stop’ fuses smooth, breathy vocals together with dense yet ambient beats. Tiece’s layered vocals on ‘Counting Cars’ are beautifully atmospheric, while Jack Goldstein’s treatment of ‘Sidhe’ is an experimental cacophony of manic beats and synth textures.

The EP fluctuates from chaos to calm, as GIHE favourite Planningtorock gives the poignant ‘Clay Grouk’ an energetic, dance-worthy beat whilst still allowing space for the “silence” towards the close of the track. Dense beats and warped voice samples permeate Young Knives’ remix of the eponymous ‘Atigheh’, ending the record with a cathartic burst of intense noise.

“Atigheh has helped me delve into my identity as a second generation immigrant” explains Zee. What started as a personal journey on her third EP has now evolved into a fascinating collection of varied identities on her Reimagined release.

Follow Despicable Zee on bandcamp & Spotify for more updates.
Zee also runs the Young Women’s Project (YWMP) which you can check out here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Kynsy – ‘Cold Blue Light’

A dark synth-pop gem that oozes with defiant attitude, Kynsy has shared her latest single ‘Cold Blue Light’. The Dublin-based, multi-instrumentalist places life’s bullies and sarky chancers in her cool spotlight, berating them with her twisted synths and sardonic vocals.

“Haven’t you heard the news? / well you got sick old fashioned views” Kynsy (aka Ciara Lindsey) seethes, refusing to tolerate abuse and societal pressure to conform. Based on her own experience of being at a New Years Eve party watching a man spout racist remarks at people, Kynsy makes it viscerally clear what she thinks of those who “abuse and terrify the young” with the stinging lyric “well I hope someone cuts out your tongue.”

“’Cold Blue Light’ is about the bullies we all encounter in life and looking for meaning in the darkness they create” explains Kynsy. “I wanted to write a song that held some sort of balance between destruction and hope. The result was a rowdy pop song truck full of sticky anger and synth pop goo. The video was filmed just with a camera on a tripod in my back garden, I wanted it to be direct and simple so people could focus on the music.”

Watch the video for ‘Cold Blue Light’ below and follow Kynsy on Spotify & Instagram for more updates.

Photo Credit: Paula Trojner

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Ailbhe Reddy – ‘Between Your Teeth’

A tentative rumination on the struggle to communicate your true feelings in a relationship, Ailbhe Reddy has shared her latest single ‘Between Your Teeth’. Lifted from her debut album Personal History, which is set for release on 2nd October via Friends of the Family, the Dublin alt-folk artist blends soft vocals with atmospheric guitars to overcome feelings of frustration and sadness on her new track.

“I think too much / I think for both of us” admits Reddy during the song, contemplating how or when to explain her complex feelings to her partner. Although the track is about a lack of communication between two people, Reddy clearly articulates this struggle with the intimate images in her lyrics – “I can’t hide it anymore / Just to hold her / on the bathroom floor / wait til it’s over” – and her delicately timed drop ins.

Speaking about her new track, Reddy explains: “It’s about the frustration of being unable to communicate in a relationship. Both people hold things back because they either don’t want, or don’t know, how to express themselves. While travelling alone, I always spent a lot of time thinking too much about past conversations and wondering what words were being held back between another person’s teeth.”

Listen to ‘Between Your Teeth’ below and follow Ailbhe Reddy on bandcamp, Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ganser

FIVE FAVOURITES: Ganser

Formed of Nadia Garofalo (keyboards/vocals), Alicia Gaines (bass/vocals), Charlie Landsman (guitar) and Brian Cundiff (drums), Chicago-based Ganser have garnered comparisons to the likes of 90s noise-makers Fugazi, Shellac, and Sonic Youth. The band have recently shared their new album, Just Look at That Sky, via Felte Records and it’s a defiant fusion of jolting rhythms, confrontational vocals and manic riffs.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with bassist & vocalist Alicia Gaines to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five songs that she believes have inspired Ganser’s song-writing techniques on their latest record. Check out her choices below, and scroll down to watch Ganser’s video for ‘Projector’ at the end of this post.

 

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Date With a Night’
There is a songwriting mode we’ve utilized at times which I’ve jokingly called “Doom Hoedown” or “Doom Shuffle.” Before really getting into The Birthday Party and their ilk, my first concert back home with my high school friends was Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I remember being blown away by their raw delivery and Karen O’s command of her particular vocal style. It took us a while to tease out what songs lean into Nadia and my strengths as vocalists, but man the music’s like a glove for O’s voice here. Listening to this really makes me miss the chaos of playing live.

2. Ultravox – ‘Distant Smile’
For Ganser, it’s about contrast. The violence and serenity in this track really compliment each other. Red looks more red against green, and so on. In a way the form of this one is a backwards version of our track ‘Emergency Equipment and Exits’. I love how the back half of this song sounds like its running away from itself.

3. Talking Heads – ‘Life During Wartime’ (Live in Los Angeles 1983)
This live version has an inevitability that’s hard to escape. The faster tempo and incredible work by the band’s support vocalists adds to the urgency on this classic. Tina Weymouth is just a monster. I have a strained and complicated relationship to the history of particularly Black women backup singers for white bands, but my affinity for this song and album (Stop Making Sense) remains.

4. These Immortal Souls – ‘The King of Kalifornia’
When there isn’t really a template for voice or perspective, it’s a journey to find what feels natural or what you need to try on to see how it fits. I think this album (I’m Never Gonna Die Again) is the first time we’ve really waded into “cockiness” as an attitude, which isn’t something women are encouraged to do. It felt really good to really absorb the energy of Rowland and some of the 90’s British bands we love. Bravado feels like a lounge lizard to me. We free associated in that direction and that attitude crept into several songs on our new record.

5. Liars – ‘No.1 Against the Rush’
I’m so amazed every time I look at Liars’ range. I have a soft spot for ambivalent tone bands like Liars and Radiohead have. There’s always a sinister edge, a wistfulness to their music throughout their discography that’s extremely admirable. Our album Just Look at That Sky is really comfortable for ambivalence, but that takes time and living in the grey. We’re just here to eavesdrop.

Thanks to Alicia for sharing her favourite songs with us.
Watch the video for Ganser’s latest single ‘Projector’ below.

Order your copy of Ganser’s new album here.

Photo Credit: Kirsten Miccoli

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