At some point in all the unhealthy relationships, there comes a time when the mask becomes unveiled and you are exposed to all inside the costume. Released under her Daph Veil project, Paula Laubach describes that moment in her piece, Bloodsucker, doesn’t simply describe it, but instead soundtracks the whole going through with such unpleasant precision.
Beginning as a seductive, blues-based lyrical grounded the guitar tone, lush and alluring, slowly turns into a wildly unchecked mayhem. It is an intentional sound curve which reflects the pattern of an unhealthy relationship: one that is seduction to turbulence, charm to exhaustion. Hypnotic vocals employed by Paula have a certain restrained tension which runs through the song with her layered harmonies contributing to the duality of who knows what is being portrayed on the outside whilst craziness rules the inside.
Every detail seems intimate, intentional and emotional. Being punctuated by the explosive drumming performed by Joe Valadez, when it happens to alter the mood of the song, it has visceral impact and makes the chaos to be deserved and not fabricated.
The production frames these contrasts with perfect effect since it was produced by Matt Parmenter at the Ice Cream Factory Studio in Austin. The moments of serenity are framed with aggressive decisions towards production, and the loud passages are accompanied by eerie moods that resonate well after the song is over. The style of genre merging, that is, the genres of alt-rock and shoegaze colliding with electronic sound, blues roots, etc., never looks unnatural; on the contrary, it is what the emotional story makes it to be.
Best written with Rebecca Price, the lyrics engage in uncivilized exploration of betrayal and dependency without sliding into melodrama. This is sick love barefoot: the burnout, the disappointment, the manner in which we manage to justify that the harm is justified. Boundary-pushing alternative music at its best, Bloodsucker is uneasy, convincing stuff, and it cannot be neglected. Daph Veil has been able to release something that reaches a gut level and shows that the best music does not narrate, but it leaves you experiencing it.
Stay connected with this amazing artist:
Discover our playlist :