ALBUM: Liz Lawrence – ‘The Avalanche’

Liz Lawrence released her third studio album in September this year. She wrote, performed and produced the entire album herself in a studio she built from scratch with her dad on the site where her grandfather’s garden shed had stood unopened for twenty years. Lawrence christened the studio ‘The Coffin’ and, whilst the album certainly has an underlying preoccupation with death, the sounds Lawrence has created within The Coffin’s walls are the furthest thing from a funeral dirge. The Avalanche is full of nonchalant, alt-pop bangers, pleasingly building on all of the promise Lawrence demonstrated on her earlier releases, Pity Party and Bedroom Hero.

Lawrence’s delivery is laconic and understated bringing a wry sensibility to each track. Vocally, she treads a path somewhere between Sharon Van Etten and Lana Del Ray, but weaves her lyrics over danceable distorted bass and guitar lines reminiscent of The Dandy Warhols. Album opener ‘Down for Fun’ sets the tone for the album perfectly with Lawrence detailing the death of a rabbit owned by a guy who wears a jester’s hat then inviting “everybody back to mine” and declaring she’s “down for fun, down for anything”. The album is a party, but with ever foreboding memento mori themes running softly in the background.

‘Violent Speed’ and ‘Where the Bodies Are Buried’ further exemplify this. ‘Violent Speed’ gives a blunt and grittily visceral description of a decapitation and ‘Where the Bodies Are Buried’ includes these brilliantly dark lyrics describing a relationship in its final throes:

“I left the heating on
And now I’m gonna knit you a sweater
A gorgeous afternoon
And I’ve been digging holes in the garden
All for one and one for you
But I know where the bodies are buried…”

As dark as Lawrence’s lyrics may be, The Avalanche is a helluva lot of fun. The album was in part inspired by Tacita Dean’s huge, seven-metre drawing, The Montafon Letter, which refers to a disaster in the Montafon Valley in Austria where an avalanche buried three hundred people. Lawrence explains, “…a priest went to the site to officiate the burial, and another avalanche buried him, and then finally another avalanche came and unburied the priest”. On The Avalanche, Lawrence skilfully plays with the idea that what destroys you might just save you too. 


The Avalanche is out now on Kartel.

Kate O’Sullivan

Photo Credit: Asia Werbel

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Track Of The Day: deep tan – ‘tamu’s yiffing refuge’

Following the recent release of their stirring, and utterly unique, EP creeping speedwells, East London trio Wafah, Celeste and Lucy – aka deep tan – return with a special one-off single taken from the label Speedy Wunderground’s new compilation.

‘tamu’s yiffing refuge‘ is as strangely kinky as the name would suggest. An explicit tale of furry hedonism, it’s propelled by a quirky, chaotic energy, as fuzzed-out hooks fizz and glitchy whirring beats keep the pace. Maintaining all the immersive, seductive allure that we’ve come to know and love from the band, this latest offering oozes an added dark, psychedelic haze and frenzied post-punk drive reminiscent of the likes of legends The Slits. With a light touch of subtle tongue-in-cheek wit, the result is a truly mystical, compelling soundscape that’ll peculiarly entice you into its swirling, fur-filled cacophony. Of the track, the band explain:

“… it’s a story of furry lust. A furries convention has hit town and at an afterparty at a nearby hotel (hosted by tamu himself) there are scenes of unbridled hedonism unmatched since the days of Freddie Mercury’s legendary parties at New Orleans’ Fairmont Hotel..“

(For those who don’t know, ‘Furries’ are a community of people who dress up in animal costumes as a hobby who meet up IRL and online as their ‘fursonas’… You learn something new every day.)

‘tamu’s yiffing refuge’ is accompanied by a bizarre new video that is every bit as trippy as you would expect… If witnessing the mischief and carnal desires of human-sized bunnies is your vibe, then you’re in for a treat!

‘tamu’s yiffing refuge’ is taken from Speedy Wunderground‘s fourth singles compilation – Speedy Wunderground – Year 4 – which is out now and also features tracks from black midi, Squid and Alex Kapranos.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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WATCH: FRÄULEIN – ‘By The Water’

Originally hailing from Northern Ireland and the Netherlands respectively, London-based duo Joni Samuels and Karsten van der Tol – aka Fräulein – are fast becoming total faves here at Get In Her Ears. Now, following their majestic last single ‘Belly’ and having completely blown me away at my first post-covid gig at The Windmill a few weeks back, they have now shared a visceral new offering.

Propelled by a gritty, swirling energy and raw, impassioned drive, ‘By The Water’ reflects on the difficulty we can often have in moving on from events of our past. Building with a subtle, brooding melancholy and eerily captivating allure, the track showcases the stark, soaring power of Joni’s vocals, creating an utterly immersive wall of grunge-fuelled splendour. Yet another example of this innovative duo’s consistent ability to develop their exquisite musical prowess with each new release, firmly cementing them as ones to watch right now. Of the track, the band explain:

“It touches on the contrasting emotions often invoked by looking back at events from your past. The track is about beauty & nighttime & romanticising times & living in the past, even though you know it’s shit and that it can keep you stagnant.”

Watch the new video for ‘By The Water’ here:

Catch Fräulein live at their headline show at The Windmill tonight. Tickets here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Emma Swann

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EP: Sophie Kilburn – ‘My Room Made Public’

Sophie Kilburn is a London based, Derbyshire born singer-songwriter who merges a classic rock vibe with a modern alt-pop twist. My Room Made Public is her debut EP, featuring four tracks with an emphasis on digging deep to ask how much of our lives we should share with the world. 

Self-empowerment is a theme that runs throughout. Each track scratches the surface on different aspects we share and how we deal with the challenges life throws at us. For example, stirring opener ‘Movements’, with its driving guitar and percussive synth with shades of later Fleetwood Mac (“you’re the wildstar on my fan poster”) reflects on the acceptance that a relationship is over, whilst ‘I’m In love With My Therapist‘ – with its slow rock beat, and soulful refrain of “gotta get out of here” – explores the claustrophobia of self-analysis, using classic ’80s pop-rock sounds.

Although ‘Ruthless’ is a slightly more uptempo dance-pop track (although the lyrics deal with being unsure of oneself), the collection ends on a more reflective note with ‘Under The Heat’ – an emotionally open exploration of the social pressures of misogyny: “Under the heat, since I was young… My voice is strong enough to speak on its own.” That is the message of this EP as a whole; finding your voice and your place in the world, and having fun while you do it. And what is particularly clever is how it uses an old school classic sound to reflect modern pressures in this social media age, all delivered through Sophie’s exquisite, powerful vocals and poignant, emotional lyricism. It is both relatable and catchy, so let it be your therapy.


My Room Made Public is out now. Listen here.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

Photo Credit: Percy Walker-Smith

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