Created entirely in her bedroom studio, Dublin-based artist Lizzie Fitzpatrick aka Coolgirl‘s debut EP, Failed Reboot, is an ode to the power of our personal relationship with sound. Released via VETA Records, it’s a vivid, cinematic collection of synths, intriguing samples and sparse vocals, transporting listeners into sonic spheres that seamlessly shift like quicksilver in tone and mood.
GIHE fans will recognise Fitzpatrick as the former front person of grunge trio Bitch Falcon, but under her new solo moniker, she experiments with everything from Korg synths to tin whistles and saxophone in order to create her unconventional offerings. On Failed Reboot, she takes listeners on a bittersweet, thrilling journey that traverses waves of deep melancholy, potent nostalgia and unspoken desire.
‘Druid’s Hood’ reveals the first glimpse into Coolgirl’s universe. Inspired by the soundtracks to vintage video games, it’s a mesmeric blend of evocative beats and cell-tingling vocals. Her synth-soaked, vivid explorations all melt into each other. Whether she’s sampling the sound of knocking on a radiator for the hypnotic ‘High Altar’, or combining whirring synth textures and glitchy beats on ‘Silverlight’, Coolgirl’s instinct and curiosity shine through on each of the six tracks that form Failed Reboot.
“I wanted listeners to take a journey with me, through muddy water and face themselves in a technologic reflection of what human relationships are with music,” Fitzpatrick comments about the conception of her debut record. This “reflection” feels most vivid on tracks like ‘Overturned’, ’22nd Capsule’ and the eponymous ‘Failed Reboot’. Each embodies a real sense of drama and theatricality. The eerie, extended opening of ’22nd Capsule’ in particular, shape-shifts into a mass of energetic, warped synths, underscored by primal, heady beats.
Curious, experimental and ambient are all words that lend themselves to Fitzpatrick’s sound, but ultimately, her music is as cool as her namesake. The tracks on Failed Reboot dissolve into each other, eroding feelings of doubt and anxiety in the process. She evokes a potent feeling of transience, infatuation and intrigue that often permeates electronic music, but she retains a fresh unconventional sonic perspective throughout.
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