LISTEN: Jenny Hval – ‘High Alice’

A swirling, textured, surreal take on creativity; Norwegian artist Jenny Hval has shared her her latest single ‘High Alice’. Taken from her upcoming album The Practice of Love – set for release via Sacred Bones on 13th September – the song centers around a re-imagined version of the eponymous character from Alice In Wonderland.

“For a while, this song felt like my entire album. I had no idea what the rest of it would be, just a feeling like this song and the title, the two words ‘High Alice,’ would get me there” explains Hval. “My guiding stars at the time were Clarice Lispector’s The Hour of the Star and Kylie Minogue’s ‘Confide In Me.’ Maybe ‘High Alice’ is the narrator of this album. I don’t know how I wrote it, it was automatic. But I found it really funny that I mentioned the sea three times. ‘High Alice’ goes to all the places I have taught myself to avoid, like the four Big Themes: Love, death, life, the ocean…”

A departure from the darkness of her 2016 album Blood Bitch, Hval’s new record seems much lighter in feel and theme, but equally as complex and emotive. The gentle vocals, looped beats, and the narrative featured on ‘High Alice’ demonstrate Hval’s ability to captivate listeners with her intimate musical storytelling. She’s able to navigate the difficulties of love and loss via her ‘High Alice’ moniker with enviable simplicity

Listen to the track below and follow Jenny Hval on Facebook for more updates.

Jenny Hval’s new album The Practice of Love is released via Sacred Bones on 13th September. Pre-order your copy here.

Jenny Hval – The Practice of Love 2019 Performances
Fri. Sept. 20 – Sat. Sept. 21 – Oslo, NO @ Ultima Festival
Sun. Sept. 29 – London, UK @ Milton Court
Wed. Oct. 16 – Frankfurt, DE @ Mousonturm
Wed. Oct. 30 – Paris, FR @ Centre Pompidou
Sat. Nov. 9 – Utrecht, NL @ Le Guess Who? Festival
Sat. Nov. 23 – Katowice, PL @ Ars Cameralis Festival

Photo credit: Lasse Marhaug

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day (Comic Review): Seazoo – ‘Throw It Up’

The latest in our ‘Comic Reviews’ feature – where illustrator Sally-Anne responds to a new track with her wonderfully unique drawings – we checked out the jangly scuzz of Welsh band Seazoo‘s new single, ‘Throw It Up’.

 

‘Throw It Up’ is out now, have a listen below. And, if you’re at End Of The Road Festival this weekend, catch Seazoo live on Sunday, 1st September.

 

Sally-Anne Hickman
@sallyshinystars

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Track Of The Day: Dearly Beloved – ‘Race To The Bottom’

Long term faves, Toronto-based Dearly Beloved, make a welcome return to our ears with a brand new video to accompany the announcement of their upcoming new album, set for release in October.

Propelled by a racing, driving energy, ‘Race To The Bottom’ is an ode to the family-run businesses of the band’s first-generation immigrant grandparents. As the gritty howl of Rob Higgins accompanies the searing passion of Niva Chow’s vocals, relentless beats and raging hooks build, creating a gutsy slice of anthemic rock ‘n’ roll. Of the track, Higgins explains:

“The song is a tribute to our grandmothers, who both ran convenience stores that Niva and I worked in as kids growing up. Their stories and achievements as immigrants to Canada that could barely speak English are even more incredible when you put them in the context of 2019.”

Watch the trippy new video for ‘Race To The Bottom’ here:

Times Square Discount, the upcoming new album from Dearly Beloved, is out 25th October via Aporia Records. Catch Dearly Beloved live (I highly recommend doing this!) when they’re over in the UK this Autumn:

28th September – Patterns, Brighton
29th September – Scala, London
1st October – Fleece, Bristol
2nd October – O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
3rd October – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
4th October – Broadcast, Glasgow
5th October – O2 Academy 2, Manchester

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LISTEN: Kim Gordon – ‘Sketch Artist’

With her inimitable vocals and uncompromising, ever-cool style; it’s no surprise that Kim Gordon‘s brand new single ‘Sketch Artist’ is an intriguing, heavy, eclectic gem. Taken from her first solo album No Home Record, which is set to for release on 11th October via Matador Records, the new track is accompanied by a sharp set of visuals directed by Berlin-based artist Loretta Fahrenholz.

Following on from Gordon’s 2016 single ‘Murdered Out’, ‘Sketch Artist’ is a multi-textured new offering that snarls, bites and sedates in equal measure. Speaking about her upcoming album, Gordon extrapolates: “Why a solo record? And why now? I don’t know, but it wouldn’t have happened without the persistence of Justin Raisen. Living in LA the last few years it feels like home, but the transience of the place makes it feel sometimes like no home.”

Gordon’s feelings about LA are explored in Fahrenholz’s visuals, which feature the artist as an “Unter” driver with a deadly stare, cruising through the city causing pedestrians to break out in to strange spasms of movement. The video also includes a cameo from actress and writer Abbi Jacobson. Whilst most will know Gordon for her work with Sonic Youth – alongside her numerous art exhibitions, and her brilliant 2015 memoir Girl In a Band – these new tracks prove she is capable or re-directing her vision whenever the mood strikes her.

Watch the video for ‘Sketch Artist’ below and follow Kim Gordon on Twitter for more updates.

Photo Credit: Natalia Mantini

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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