This is really good. I actually like this version of Pale on Pale better than the album version I think.
Time for another review.
Today I’ve decided to review the newest LP, Ἀποκάλυψις (pronounced “Apokalypsis”), by artist Chelsea Wolfe. This title actually translates to “revelations” and given the mood and song titles of this album, I feel there is something transcendent trying to be achieved through this LP.
The album begins with much more straightforward songs that are very accessible and easy to get into. I find throughout the majority of these more accessible tracks, they have a great groove to them that slowly and steadily push the song forward. Some of these tracks really remind me of something Warpaint or even Blonde Redhead might do. Although I initially found these first few tracks not as captivating as the later ones, as I revisited them I found that they have their own sort of role in the album that makes the album feel like one complete and consistent work.
As the album progresses, the tracks became much more atmospheric and really build until they end up as just huge bodies of sound that are very thick and hypnotizing. I feel as if I’m almost being swallowed by all the sounds being made by the end and it’s just this wonderfully feeling that completely engulfs you. The tracks really start to remind me of something I would find in a Godspeed You! Black Emperor record or even something Sonic youth would do.
There are very obvious influences on this record, but Chelsea manages to really make them her own and mold them to her own sound. The entire album is just so dark and droney. All of the instrumentals really just blend together into one force and there really is no brightness about any of the sounds. Even the drums manage to sound dark with these huge resonating cymbal hits and the whole kit just sounds like it’s a mile away which makes them fit in so perfectly with everything else going on. The vocals are the only thing I could kind of sense some light coming from but they are so breathy and are just dripping with reverb that even they end up getting lost in this dark cloud with the rest of what’s going on.
What I really love about the mix is that even though everything blends together into one body of sound, everything is still so audible and you’re able to pick it apart from the rest of what’s going on. There’s also a ton of really strange, ambient subtleties that permeate through out this whole album. Like on the song “Moses”, there is what I believe to be reverse snare that adds almost a breeze-like sound to the song and really ties together the whole mood. There’s also a lot of what sound like electronic sounds that can be found throughout some of the album but they just sound way too natural and organic to be made artificially. My guess is that it’s just pitch-shifted or reverse guitar but a lot of it still remains a mystery to me. I love all of these little sonic subtleties that Chelsea is using, it makes it so every listen I’m able to latch onto something different and it just makes me want to listen to it again and again.
I found this album to be an amazing experience and I can’t really remember the last time I’ve felt so moved by a single LP. My only gripe with it is I just wish some of the songs would carry on a little longer but other than that, this album really succeeds at everything it sets out to do. I can’t wait to see what Chelsea has in store for the future. I’m giving this a strong 9, breaching 10 territory, it’s just that incredible. I’m really interested in what others thought though. Did you love it? Or Hate it? I’m also taking suggestions for what I should review next.
Rating: 9/10
Favorite Tracks (Listen to the WHOLE THING to get the full experience):
Mer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xwLuMEXdLg
Moses: (Make sure you listen to the version from this LP, not the last one)
Movie Screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaavh9S0UnA
Artists you might also like: Warpaint, Sonic Youth, Portishead, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Earth, Worker Bee, Blonde Redhead
