Kate Crudgington

LISTEN: Glass Isle – ‘Pols d’Ombres’

Loosely translating as ‘Dust Of Shadows’, London-based Brazilian artist Zuleika AvTes aka Glass Isle casts a graceful gloom over her listeners on the captivating ‘Pols d’Ombres’. Possessing a lucid dream-like quality, the track is taken from her recent album, Vels d’Èter (‘Veils Of Ether’), which she released via Outer Reaches earlier this month.

By blending her delicate vocal loops with cell-tingling FX and gossamer-like drone sounds, Glass Isle has created a hypnotic rumination that becomes more potent each time it’s listened to. This is the same spellbinding affect her album Vels d’Èter offers. Across 20 tracks, all varying in length, Glass Isle takes listeners on a journey through mortality, and memory, dreams and ritual, solitude and transformation; all via the medium of field recordings captured in London & São Paulo, illuminating drone sounds, and her stirring, far-off vocals.

Described as “music of the ether…diverging through parks and passageways, hinterlands and undergrowth, apparitional visions of arboreal scenery, liminal avenues, and opalescent waterways,” Glass Isle’s sound is as intoxicating as it is elusive. Flickering between the shadows of this world and the realms of another, her music transports listeners through differing states of consciousness. Formed over many years, and now sewn together, Vels d’Èter is ready to illuminate the lives of other.

The album is available as a digital download and on limited edition clear C74 Cassette tape. The cassette includes a 28 page A6 Photography Booklet (160gsm paper/silk finish) and is housed in a Black Matt or Silver Matt Mylar Bag with an Outer Reaches Label Sticker. You can buy your copy here.

Listen to ‘Pols d’Ombres’ below.

Follow Glass Isle on bandcamp, YouTube, Twitter (X) & Instagram

Visit Glass Isle’s official website here

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

October 9, 2023October 9, 2023

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

ALBUM: ĠENN – ‘unum’

A dynamic, shape-shifting record inspired by feelings of otherness, Malta-via-Brighton art punks ĠENN have crafted an intricate narrative of multi-cultural experiences, personal anxieties and a powerful sense of togetherness on their debut album, unum. Released via their own label Liminal Collective, the record is an urgent, instinctive rumination on the band’s predominantly Maltese roots, how it feels to be an outsider and how the universal feeling of wanting to belong is more powerful than the overwhelming social, mental and political barriers that try to prevent this from occurring.

Co-produced by ĠENN, Gilla Band’s Dan Fox & Tom Hill and mastered by Katie Tavini, unum – which means “oneness, unity, a sense of being whole” in Latin – is influenced by a myriad of musical genres. Despite sharing the same Maltese roots, guitarist Janelle, bassist Leanne and vocalist Leona are inspired by a plethora or different styles, from post-punk and psych-rock, to freestyle and traditional Ghanaian folk music. Drummer Sofia was raised in Brighton with a love of jazz and blues music, but her Jamaican, Portuguese and British heritage offers another layer to ĠENN’s multifaceted sound.

From of the offset, unum is an ardent fusion of yearning and urgency. “Me and my body have a close relationship / yet I feel nothing like myself” confesses Leona on opener ‘Rohmeresse’, her hushed spoken-word contrasting against the track’s upbeat, chant-worthy motif of “I wanna stay in all day / I wanna sleep in all day, all day.” Evocative riffs and skittish percussion all lead up to an impressive display of her elastic vocal range in the latter part of the track, before everything culminates in a potent, explosive breakdown. ‘Rohmeresse’ showcases ĠENN’s abilities to melt complex, contradictory concepts and instrumentation into sophisticated, accessible sounds.

The chemistry between the band is best observed and appreciated when they’re playing live together, but on unum, Leona’s vocals truly command listeners attention. They are a vital force amidst the genre-blending skills of her bandmates, cutting through in all the right places. Whether she’s tackling the monotonous reality of a day job on the brooding ‘Days and Nights’, singing over swaggering riffs and saxophone on ‘Wild West’, or exploring creative and personal purgatory on the trip-hop inspired ‘A Muse (In Limbo)’, her ambiguous lyrics are heightened by her instinctive, dynamic vocal delivery.

This instinct is shared and showcased most vehemently on tracks ‘Calypso’, ‘A Reprise (That Girl)’ and ‘The Sister Of’. The first – named after the island Janelle’s Mother hails from – is a melodic, jazz-tinged symphony inspired by mythical mermaids and the language of Maltese poet and playwright Mario Azzopardi, the rhythms of which seep into the bloodstream. ‘A Reprise (That Girl)’ sees Leona spiral into feelings of self doubt and insecurity after watching heavily constructed versions of women’s lives online, intensified by incendiary riffs.

Arguably, it’s on ‘The Sister Of’ that the issues which inspired the creation of unum are pushed directly into the spotlight. ĠENN – who identify as majority queer people of colour – remain hopeful in sisterhood, despite the shadows of the Maltese Pro-Abortion movement and Pride protests stretching across the waters into their consciousness here in the UK. Whilst not addressed directly, these feelings of unease permeate ‘The Sister Of’, as Leona evokes visceral, fleshy imagery in her lyrics – “Pulsed by the wisdom that lies beneath your gum / blood glistens between your clenched teeth” – exploring the “alienation that bursts out of sight / agitation that brings through the light.” The track’s accompanying video, a short film by acclaimed Ukrainian director Kyryl Volovych, also reflects themes of disconnection and transience that come with being an immigrant in the post-Brexit landscape.

Ultimately, ĠENN’s debut album is a keenly observed statement of self-autonomy, and the often exhausting journey that comes with trying achieve to it. It’s a compelling, vital record that re-enforces the powerful bonds of friendship between its creators, whilst offering listeners a glimpse into a world of experiences they may not always be privy to; all underscored by formidable riffs and a formidable creative spirit.

Follow ĠENN on bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (X) & Instagram

Photo Credit: Jordan Core

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

October 6, 2023October 9, 2023

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

NEW TRACK: Twin Rains – ‘Laws Of The Universe’

A sweeping, cinematic rumination on the impact our actions have after we’re gone, Toronto-based dream-pop band Twin Rains have shared their latest single, ‘Laws Of The Universe’. Following on from their previous release ‘You’re the Only One’, the track is a heady, swirling interpretation on personal legacy, inspired by a key episode of the hit TV show, Succession.

Formed of Jay Merrow, Christine Stoesser and live drummer Greg Smith, Twin Rains write, record and produce all of their own music. Signed to Rough Trade Publishing, the band create emotive, psych-tinged, synth-soaked sounds that have been licensed for use on TV shows and movies. Their potent blend of Christine’s soft vocals with noisy, distorted guitar sounds makes for immersive listening, and their latest track ‘Laws Of The Universe’ spotlights this songwriting skill. The single also marks the first time that Twin Rains have used strings on a track, performed by Toronto musician Jessica Deutsch.

“Inspiration can come from anywhere,” explains Christine about ‘Laws Of The Universe’. “The concept of this song was prompted by an episode of Succession, the one where Kendall speaks at his father’s funeral, saying basically: ‘Yeah we know he wasn’t a nice person—but look at what he accomplished.’ So one moment I’m watching TV and the next I’m in deep contemplation because I found this to be such a profound philosophical debate: what’s more important? Your life and how you treat the people and places in it, or your legacy?”

Contemplations like this have inspired many of the the tracks on Twin Rains’ new LP, which they have been busy working on. Look out for more details on the release in the near future.

Watch the video for ‘Laws Of The Universe’ below.

Follow Twin Rains on bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (X) & Instagram

Photo Credit: Shane Chiasson

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

October 5, 2023October 9, 2023

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

NEW TRACK: Coolgirl – ‘Druid’s Hood’

A mesmerising blend of evocative beats and cell-tingling vocals inspired by the sounds on vintage video games, Dublin-based artist and producer Lizzie Fitzpatrick aka Coolgirl has shared her latest single, ‘Druid’s Hood’. Taken from her upcoming EP, Failed Reboot, which is set for release on 8th November via VETA Records, the track offers another intriguing insight into Coolgirl’s cinematic, synth-soaked universe.

GIHE fans will recognise Fitzpatrick as the front person of grunge trio Bitch Falcon, but under her solo moniker she uses electronics to create vivid, sometimes ambient, sometimes upbeat soundscapes. After releasing a handful of singles over the past few years – including recent tracks ‘Silverlight‘ and ‘High Altar‘ – Coolgirl is preparing to share her new EP, with ‘Druid’s Hood’ providing listeners with another captivating glimpse into the experimental world she inhabits.

“‘Druid’s Hood’ was written as a counterpart to the more poppy heavy tracks on the EP,” Fitzpatrick explains about the single. “I wrote it as it led me down a sci-fi path, almost like something out of a SEGA genesis game found deep in the bargain basket. Vocals appear only on this track on the EP and I wanted to mix the emotion of Kate Bush with the intensity of Karin Dreijer.” With her eclectic range of instruments – including a TR8, PRO-1, Tin Whistle and Korg DW6000 – and her Kate Bush/Fever Ray tinged vocals, Coolgirl evokes a potent feeling of nostalgia, whilst also retaining her fresh unconventional sonic perspective.

Coolgirl’s upcoming EP Failed Reboot will be released on digital platforms and on cassette tape. Described as “a warped and deep sound that delves deep in reverb while bouncing back to a steady dance beat,” the songs dissolve into each other in a way that is best appreciated when heard on tape. Pre-order your copy now.