EP: Sive – ‘Sive’

Sive (Sadbh O’Sullivan) is an Irish songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, and has just released her eponymous new EP featuring the eclectic sounds of alternative folk/trad with jazz percussion, all seamed together by her captivating voice. The EP is about navigating self-discovery in a world that can be noisy and overwhelming. It challenges the listener to stop, listen and open themselves up to what can be learned by doing so.

Dream-folk opener ‘Quietly’ starts off with ukulele accompanying an ethereal voice – “hail to the man that lingers on..stares into the noise.. and listens for the silence”, leading into the vocal layering of the chorus where we “dance the language of our bones.”

‘Holding’ is about someone unravelling, built around the sounds of kalimba and chimes, creating a sound that suggests fragility, but gains strength as the song progresses to a faster rhythm and a swirling pastoral aura. This theme carries on into the relatable ‘Do It All The Time’ with its catchy chorus and atmospherics, regarding lying about one’s true mental state – “I don’t know why I do it all the time… it’s a complex work of art.” 

Slipping back to dream-folk with ‘Yukki Onna’, a haunting song about a Japanese mythical figure, and you are carried along by Sive’s captivating voice. The EP ends with ‘Tenlach’ where the beautiful Irish language is featured; a soothing lullaby, reflecting a connection with nature, tradition and roots. The perfect ending to the collection.   

Overall, the EP delivers a balanced introspection; the mood is uplifting and reverential, filled with delightful and unexpected musical turns. I was held throughout by Sive’s emotive and enveloping voice, warming my heart, and undoubtedly yours too when you’re lucky enough to listen to this poignant collection.

Sive is out on 2nd May via Veta Records.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

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LISTEN: Ida Wenøe – ‘Circus Season’

Danish singer-songwriter Ida Wenøe’s new single, ‘Circus Season’, feels magical. Sharing her experiences as a female musician travelling the world alone, Wenøe plunges you straight into the pages of an Angela Carter novel.

She confesses how she kissed the ‘devil’ on the last night of a US tour: “He was wearing the mask of a magician, but his horns were still showing…”

In many ways, ‘Circus Season’ feels like a fairly straightforward folk song. But the slow, quiet strum of Wenøe’s guitar really brings her otherworldly voice to the fore. And by the time the echoey harmonies kick in, your ears are filled with the track’s captivating beauty.

Powerful and ethereal, ‘Circus Season’ puts Wenøe in good company – think Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush and Bat for Lashes. I can’t wait to hear more.

 

‘Circus Season’ is out now via Integrity Records/Songcrafter Music.

Victoria Conway

Photo Credit: Zarko Ivetic

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Track Of The Day: Gulls – ‘Shop’

Brighton trio Gulls take on consumerism and gentrification in new “#punkrockemopop” banger. ‘Shop’ uses heavy guitar riffs and loudly spoken words to battle gentrification of their hometown Brighton and the way that consumerism by the general public helps it to move.

Rhi Kavok, self-titled “punk-poet”, uses her lyrics to express her distaste for high-end brands and upset about community assets being shut down perfectly in this track.

The punk movement, especially in the last few years, has lost what it used to really be about; fighting the regime and pissing off the government. But now Gulls make sure that they focus on what’s really important to them and scream it from the rooftops.

‘Shop’ is a punk banger with those heavy riffs and drum lines accentuating the vocals; no matter where you are in the UK, you’ll be able to absolutely relate to its poignant message.

Listen to ‘Shop’ by Gulls here:

Bekky Smart
@bekkymays

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Track Of The Day: Petrol Girls – ‘Big Mouth’

Always at the forefront when it comes to fighting for equality and fair representation; Petrol Girls have shared a powerful new video for their new single ‘Big Mouth’. Supporting the ongoing defamation case for Solidarity Not Silence – a group of women who are being silenced for speaking out against the behaviour of a man in the music industry – their new single is a necessary shout-back and a call to arms to support their activist sisters.

Vocalist Ren Aldridge explains more about the track’s context: “[Big Mouth] focuses in on voice as a physical sound that comes directly from our bodies, and also more generally as self-expression. There’s a lot of politics around who is heard and what that means, and many marginalised groups are only tolerated when they’re quiet. When they refuse this containment and control, they’re met with attempts to silence them.”

“Just one example of this is the defamation case which aims to silence the Solidarity Not Silence girls…whilst the case is ongoing, we are limited in what we can say about it, but encourage everyone to spread the word and donate to the crowdfunding campaign for their legal costs. They are determined to not allow their case to set a precedent for silencing marginalised voices in the music industry and beyond. There’s no legal aid for this kind of case – they need money to pay for their legal representation in order to pursue justice. You can get a Solidarity Not Silence t-shirt, as worn by Joe in the ‘Big Mouth’ music video, here.”

As well as Ren’s own powerful voice, the new single includes a sample of Poly Styrene’s iconic intro to X-Ray Spex’s ‘Oh Bondage! Up Yours!’- with lyrics that still resonate with activists and musicians over forty years later. ‘Big Mouth’ is taken from Petrol Girls’ upcoming album Cut & Stitch, which will be released on 24th May via Hassle Records. A companion Rough Trade Publishing ‘Edition’, written by Ren, is also available to pre-order via the band’s official store.

The band will be touring extensively from the beginning of May, including in-stores at Rough Trades in the week the album is released, tours with War On Women and La Dispute, plus appearances as festivals like The Great Escape, 2000trees and Roskilde. Watch the video for ‘Big Mouth’ below and follow Petrol Girls on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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