LOUISE LEMÓN
Making music under the self-proclaimed death-gospel banner, Louise Lemón's debut offering has arrived in the form of 'Purge LP'. Apparently, this was recorded "in a haunted cabin" in her native Sweden (albeit mixed in Seattle with Randall Dunn), and "haunted" is a key word here. The music, on the whole, has a hauntingly ambient vibe, where ethereal sonics reign on an album that's steeped in exquisitely forged melancholia (with the exception of the more upbeat 'Let Me In'). Tracks ooze atmosphere in each and every bar of music. This is emotionally-driven art on a profound level, and provides an equally emotionally profound listening experience.
While the instrumentals have been crafted with predominant minimalism, and Lemón's vocals are laidback, sultry and sublimely captivating over much of the music, songs are punctuated, at times, with emotionally explosive bursts of catharsis. ‘Thirst’ is a prime example of this… where the chilled delivery of Lemón's singing over a down-tempo, almost trip-rock backing, gives way to potently expressive crescendos each time the chorus kicks in. This is, perhaps, more emphatic on ‘Shipwreck’, where the entire second half of the song feels like one long crescendo. But, some songs are purely about sustained ethereal essence, such as opener ‘Appalacherna’, ‘Malex’ and ‘Only Meet at Night’, with the latter conveying more of an emphatic gospel-edge, vocally and instrumentally, than any other track on the album.
‘Purge LP’ is rather stunning and mightily impressive for a debut release. And, despite the darkly melancholic vibe to much of the music, the listening experience, for me at least, has proved to be an uplifting one on each subsequent listen. Louise Lemón is a new talent to keep an eye on. I feel even greater things are ahead for this Swede.
While the instrumentals have been crafted with predominant minimalism, and Lemón's vocals are laidback, sultry and sublimely captivating over much of the music, songs are punctuated, at times, with emotionally explosive bursts of catharsis. ‘Thirst’ is a prime example of this… where the chilled delivery of Lemón's singing over a down-tempo, almost trip-rock backing, gives way to potently expressive crescendos each time the chorus kicks in. This is, perhaps, more emphatic on ‘Shipwreck’, where the entire second half of the song feels like one long crescendo. But, some songs are purely about sustained ethereal essence, such as opener ‘Appalacherna’, ‘Malex’ and ‘Only Meet at Night’, with the latter conveying more of an emphatic gospel-edge, vocally and instrumentally, than any other track on the album.
‘Purge LP’ is rather stunning and mightily impressive for a debut release. And, despite the darkly melancholic vibe to much of the music, the listening experience, for me at least, has proved to be an uplifting one on each subsequent listen. Louise Lemón is a new talent to keep an eye on. I feel even greater things are ahead for this Swede.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Icons Creating Evil Art
Album
PURGE LP
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
31:15
RELEASE DATE:
6th April 2018
TRACK LISTING
1) Appalacherna
2) Thirst
3) Only Meet At Night
4) Egyptian Darkness
5) Let Me In
6) Shipwreck
7) Malex
8) 178
2) Thirst
3) Only Meet At Night
4) Egyptian Darkness
5) Let Me In
6) Shipwreck
7) Malex
8) 178
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"...a hauntingly ambient vibe, where ethereal sonics reign on an album that's steeped in exquisitely forged melancholia..."
