For many years now, multi-instrumentalist Dana Schechter, the main woman behind Insect Ark, has been making music “built from the churning of raw insides”. Assisted by varying collaborators, she has released four full-length albums under that moniker the latest of which is Raw Blood Singing. The themes, quality and the character of the music have largely remained the same over the years, and the new album continues on the established dark, winding, and complicated paths. There is, however, one big novelty to the most recent release. Of what kind? Read on to find out.
Insect Ark’s sound was never easily approachable and nowhere near catchy, not even in the vicinity of. Mixing elements of various genres, such as doom, drone, ambient, sludge and psyche, the project’s output had always required some serious engaging with. This could be one of the reasons why the band, despite receiving much critical acclaim and being around for almost a decade and a half now, has not gained more prominence. However, things might be about to change. With Raw Blood Singing Insect Ark have evolved from an instrumental band to one that also includes singing. And who’s singing? Schechter, of course.
The smoky vocals are a great addition to the music, making it richer, lusher and more accessible. Schechter has said that it took her quite some time to get comfortable as a vocalist, and indeed, in her various other involvements, among them primarily the giant Swans, playing bass, lap steel guitar and keyboards, she usually is not at the centre of attention. But everyone who will give Insect Ark’s new album a listen will have no doubts regarding the power of her vocal performance, and I have no difficulties at all imagining it shining in a more prominent role.
A San Francisco native, who had lived, worked and made music in Brooklyn for 20 years, Schechter has since relocated to Berlin, Germany, were she has teamed up with drummer/percussionist Tim Wyskida (Khanate, Blind Idiot God). Here Raw Blood Singing, originally written by Schechter alone, was reworked and rebirthed in collaboration with Wyskida.
Of the albums eight tracks which are all uncategorizable but also all intersecting at “the outer realms of avant-Metal, psych-Doom, and experimental Goth” I’d like to point out the two that pretty well demonstrate the sonic scope of this project: Cleaven Hearted and The Hands. While the instrumental piece Cleaven Hearted features monstrous riffs that would make any black metal or doom band proud, the following track The Hands which includes Schechter’ singing has a Pixies-que ring to it, at least in its beginning.
If you’re up for a bit of a challenge, Raw Blood Singing will reward you with music firmly situated in the realm of the dark and icy, but thought completely out of the box.
(8/10 Slavica)
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