"it was magical, like a ritual, like an exorcism"
November 15, 2021 11:57 AM Subscribe
Singer and songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle has released her fifth solo album Engine of Hell.
Rundle isolated herself in coastal Wales to begin writing the album in January 2020, and finished writing the piano pieces at home in Louisville, Kentucky the following May. At some point in the process, she entered a mental hospital for eight or nine days. As she told Kerrang, “when you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go”.
The album features a much more spare approach than her previous full-band albums (and certainly more than her collaborations with metal band Thou), with unadorned performances on guitar and piano, all recorded live.
Without even reverb to get in the way of her voice, Rundle's lyrics become Engine of Hell's focus. With her childhood instrument of piano linking her back to her past, her writing looks closer at her tumultuous past than ever before. Speaking to Stereogum, she says the title refers to that experience. "[I]t’s this mechanism through which you’re forced to rewatch and relive memories over and over again."
The release is accompanied by videos for "Return," "Blooms of Oblivion," and "The Company."
Rundle isolated herself in coastal Wales to begin writing the album in January 2020, and finished writing the piano pieces at home in Louisville, Kentucky the following May. At some point in the process, she entered a mental hospital for eight or nine days. As she told Kerrang, “when you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go”.
The album features a much more spare approach than her previous full-band albums (and certainly more than her collaborations with metal band Thou), with unadorned performances on guitar and piano, all recorded live.
Without even reverb to get in the way of her voice, Rundle's lyrics become Engine of Hell's focus. With her childhood instrument of piano linking her back to her past, her writing looks closer at her tumultuous past than ever before. Speaking to Stereogum, she says the title refers to that experience. "[I]t’s this mechanism through which you’re forced to rewatch and relive memories over and over again."
The release is accompanied by videos for "Return," "Blooms of Oblivion," and "The Company."
I liked it but need to listen a few more times before it enters my brain. I do miss her electric guitar playing.
posted by signal at 12:28 PM on November 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by signal at 12:28 PM on November 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Well according to her, she also recorded an improvised experimental album around the same time and that’ll be out next year—I think it may be a soundtrack? But the electric guitar will be back soon!
posted by Maaik at 2:01 PM on November 15, 2021
posted by Maaik at 2:01 PM on November 15, 2021
I have tickets to see Emma Ruth Rundle supporting Chelsea Wolfe. The gig has been rescheduled twice now: from June 2020 to June 2021, and again to June 2021.
I am being very, very patient.
Her new album is fantastic: quieter than her previous ones, but even more intense.
Speaking of the difference between her full-band and her solo work - this is an excellent review of her solo performance at Roadburn festival, that is also relevant for the new album:
“That show summed up really well that ethos of redefining heaviness. That one woman, with no accompaniment, was able to create this unique atmosphere, so dense and overwhelming. It was absolutely a heavy performance, but not necessarily the kind of thing that people associate with heavy music. ”
posted by davidwitteveen at 11:07 PM on November 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
I am being very, very patient.
Her new album is fantastic: quieter than her previous ones, but even more intense.
Speaking of the difference between her full-band and her solo work - this is an excellent review of her solo performance at Roadburn festival, that is also relevant for the new album:
“That show summed up really well that ethos of redefining heaviness. That one woman, with no accompaniment, was able to create this unique atmosphere, so dense and overwhelming. It was absolutely a heavy performance, but not necessarily the kind of thing that people associate with heavy music. ”
posted by davidwitteveen at 11:07 PM on November 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
I definitely got some Tori Amos vibes from a few of the tracks.
I'm seeing her (pandemic willing) in February. It's a solo performance but I'd love to see her perform with Chelsea Wolfe or with Thou. Can't wait.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:33 AM on November 16, 2021
I'm seeing her (pandemic willing) in February. It's a solo performance but I'd love to see her perform with Chelsea Wolfe or with Thou. Can't wait.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:33 AM on November 16, 2021
« Older Channeling Chansley | Like watching an emergent improv band forming... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by tclark at 12:22 PM on November 15, 2021 [1 favorite]