Mulberry Violence

Last updated
Mulberry Violence
Mulberry Violence Trevor Powers.jpg
Studio album by
Trevor Powers
ReleasedAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
Studio Sonic Ranch (Tornillo, Texas)
Genre
Length36:36
Label Baby Halo
Producer
Trevor Powers chronology
Savage Hills Ballroom
(2015)		Mulberry Violence
(2018)		Capricorn
(2020)

Mulberry Violence is the fourth studio album by American musician Trevor Powers, and his first release under his real name. It was released on August 17, 2018, via Baby Halo. Recording sessions took place at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. Production was handled entirely by Powers with additional production from Jason Kingsland and Tim Friesen.

Contents

Background

The album was written and recorded after Powers' previous project, Youth Lagoon, ended. [1] After Youth Lagoon, Powers began to study classical music theory, jazz and ancient music. Powers then began to craft new music from poetry he had written during his travels throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. He ultimately paired his poems with avant-pop and noise music to create the rough backbone of what would become Mulberry Violence.

The album was recorded at Sonic Ranch, a residential studio complex in Tornillo, Texas. The album was mixed in Los Angeles by Beyoncé collaborator Stuart White, and mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound.

Album artwork and title

While the album artwork for Mulberry Violence was designed by Baptiste Bernazeau, the title for the album was conceived by Powers after a self-proclaimed "internet rabbithole" led him to become fascinated by the ancient symbolism of mulberry trees. As noted in Powers' interview with Matt Connor for Under the Radar magazine, the mulberry tree "has stood as a symbol of patience and wisdom throughout the ages, a symbol of calculated restraint. It is, by all present appearances, a necessary icon for our divided times, a present political state in which basic human dignity is often forgotten". [2] Influenced by this symbolism, Powers' began to draw a comparison between the mulberry and the human race. Noting that, while the mulberry mysticism exists on one spectrum marked by patience and ancient wisdom, "every person ever is on the complete opposite end of that spectrum", [2] an important dichotomy which led Powers to title the project as "Mulberry Violence".

Promotion and tour

A music video for the lead single, "Playwright", was released on April 2, 2018. At the time, Powers had not announced a new album, but rather, presented the video as a representation of the paradoxes that present themselves within each person. [3] A series of "couplets" were later released to promote the new project. "Ache" and "Plaster Saint" were the first coupled singles released, in addition to announcing the new album and a string of new tour dates to promote Mulberry Violence. [4] Powers released two more sets of couplets, "XTQ Idol" and "Dicegame", on June 27, 2018, and "Clad In Skin" and "Squelch" on July 25, 2018, releasing over half of the new material before its First Listen on NPR Music. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 6.9/10 [6]
Metacritic 73/100 [7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Earbuddy8.2/10 [10]
Exclaim! 7/10 [11]
Loud and Quiet 7/10 [12]
Northern Transmissions8/10 [13]
Pitchfork 7.4/10 [14]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
The 405 5.5/10 [6]

Mulberry Violence was met with generally favorable reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 73, based on eight reviews. [7] The aggregator AnyDecentMusic? has the critical consensus of the album at a 6.9 out of 10, based on nine reviews. [6] The aggregator Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as 70 out of 100, based on nine reviews. [13]

Earbuddy reviewer called the album "gorgeous and chaotic". [10] Nick Roseblade of DIY magazine stated, "Trevor Powers has crafted an album full of malice and aggression that it lives up to its title, but it is peppered with themes of hope and optimism". [9] Owen Maxwell of Northern Transmissions said, "For this new record, Powers takes all the conventions we've gotten used to and flips them in bizarre and abrasive ways. Though it can sometimes feel like a little much, Powers rarely goes far enough to stop being catchy". [13] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork said, "Mulberry Violence isn't ugly music by any stretch--all of the bleeding, shrieking noises are undergirded by rich chords, and Powers drops little moments of untouched beauty for us to get our breath". [14] Jenna Mohammed of Exclaim! said, "Powers has found the perfect balance between melodic sounds and a darker aesthetic, making his new creative endeavours come more into focus". [11] Adriane Pontecorvo of PopMatters said, "Mulberry Violence makes it clear that he has the artistic scope and emotional depth to take full advantage of the opportunities he has given himself, and the versatility to keep things very interesting". [15] AllMusic's James Christopher Monger said, "His voice shrouded in distortion, sometimes to the song's detriment, Powers' ability to go from vulnerable to feral in the blink of an eye keeps the listener on the edge of their seat, as does the occasional jarring shift from ambient vista to chemical grade electro-mayhem". [8] Fergal Kinney of Loud and Quiet said, "it's an album of icy electronica, marked by its sonic scarcity as well as its distance from any of his previous output". [12]

In mixed reviews, Jazz Monroe of Q considered this release as "uniquely unhinged". [16] The 405 reviewer said, "Mulberry Violence isn't a letdown because it doesn’t live up to expectations of what a Trevor Powers album is supposed to sound like. It’s a letdown because an immensely talented and creative spirit is struggling to let his instincts speak for themselves". [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Trevor Powers

No.TitleLength
1."XTQ Idol"5:44
2."Dicegame"4:42
3."Pretend It's Confetti"1:23
4."Clad In Skin"3:04
5."Playwright"4:03
6."Film It All"3:45
7."Squelch"3:30
8."Ache"3:10
9."Plaster Saint"3:11
10."Common Hoax"4:11
Total length:36:36

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Powers</span> American musician

Trevor Powers is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. Powers was initially active as Youth Lagoon from 2010 to 2016, after which he announced that he was retiring from the project. He returned to music with a self-titled project in May 2018. In 2022, he took Youth Lagoon out of retirement with the announcement of a new album Heaven Is a Junkyard. Powers' music has been described as electronic and experimental with elements of pop.

<i>Goodbye Bread</i> 2011 studio album by Ty Segall

Goodbye Bread is the fourth album by San Francisco garage rock singer-songwriter Ty Segall. Pitchfork placed the album at number 31 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011". The album presented a much more melodic, sappy energy relative to Segall's previous rock-oriented releases. Distortion effects such as fuzz and overdrive, though, were still heavily broadcast in songs such as "My Head Explodes" and "Where Your Head Goes".

<i>The Year of Hibernation</i> 2011 studio album by Youth Lagoon

The Year of Hibernation is the debut album of American artist Youth Lagoon, the stage name of musician Trevor Powers. The album was released on September 27, 2011 on the independent record label Fat Possum Records. It peaked at No. 41 on the Independent Albums and No. 8 on the Top Heatseekers charts of Billboard. While no official singles were released, two of the songs were made available on Bandcamp prior to the album's release and two videos were made in support of the album.

<i>Wondrous Bughouse</i> 2013 studio album by Youth Lagoon

Wondrous Bughouse is the second album by Youth Lagoon, the stage name of American musician Trevor Powers. The album was released on March 5, 2013 on the independent record label Fat Possum Records. It peaked at No. 76 on the Billboard 200, No. 12 on the Independent Albums chart and No. 26 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

<i>Savage Hills Ballroom</i> 2015 studio album by Youth Lagoon

Savage Hills Ballroom is the third studio album by Boise, Idaho-based musician Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project. The album was recorded in Bristol, England, and released on September 25, 2015 by Fat Possum Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anymore (Goldfrapp song)</span> 2017 single by Goldfrapp

"Anymore" is a song performed by English group Goldfrapp from their seventh studio album Silver Eye (2017). It was released as a CD single and digital download on 23 January 2017 through Mute Records. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and William Owen Gregory, with additional production coming from The Haxan Cloak and John Congleton. The song incorporates several genres, including dance-pop, electronica and synth-pop, and takes influence from disco and glitch music. Critics noticed similarities between "Anymore" and the music from their 2003 album Black Cherry. Lyrically, Goldfrapp sings in robotic vocals about romance, which one critic felt referenced their 2005 single "Ooh La La".

<i>Moonshine Freeze</i> 2017 studio album by This Is the Kit

Moonshine Freeze is the fourth studio album by British band This Is the Kit. It was released on 7 July 2017 through Rough Trade Records, marking the band's debut on the label. Recording sessions took place at Invada Studios is Bristol. Production was handled by John Parish.

<i>Wide Awake!</i> 2018 studio album by Parquet Courts

Wide Awake! is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Parquet Courts, released on May 18, 2018 on Rough Trade Records.

<i>Dose Your Dreams</i> 2018 studio album by Fucked Up

Dose Your Dreams is the fifth studio album by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up. The album was released on October 5, 2018 through Merge Records.

<i>Were Not Talking</i> 2018 studio album by the Goon Sax

We're Not Talking is the second studio album by Australian indie pop band the Goon Sax. It was released on 14 September 2018, by Chapter Music in Australia and New Zealand, and Wichita Recordings worldwide.

<i>Rouge</i> (Yuna album) 2019 album by Malaysian singer Yuna

Rouge is the fourth international studio album by Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. The album, which saw her collaborate with many international acts, was released on July 12, 2019, by labels Verve Forecast Records and Universal Music Group. Five songs in the album were released as singles. Rouge, Yuna's seventh album overall, was recorded between 2017 and 2019.

<i>Animated Violence Mild</i> 2019 studio album by Blanck Mass

Animated Violence Mild is the fourth studio album by British electronic musician Blanck Mass. It was released on 16 August 2019 under Sacred Bones Records.

<i>Every Bad</i> 2020 studio album by Porridge Radio

Every Bad is the second studio album by British indie rock band Porridge Radio. It was released on 13 March 2020 on the record label Secretly Canadian. The album was nominated for the 2020 Mercury Prize.

<i>Keleketla!</i> 2020 studio album by Keleketla!

Keleketla! is the self-titled studio album by British/South African musical project brought together by Johannesburg's Keleketla! Library founders Rangoato Hlasane and Malose Malahlela and English electronic music duo Coldcut. The album's title means "response" in the Sepedi language. It was released on 3 July 2020 via Ahead Of Our Time. Recording sessions took place at Trackside Creative Studios in Soweto, at Denmark Street Studios and at Assault and Battery Studios in London.

Endless Scroll is the debut studio album by American punk band Bodega. It was released on June 1, 2018 under What's Your Rupture?.

Black Rainbow Sound is the third studio album by English band Menace Beach. It was released on September 7, 2018 under Memphis Industries.

<i>Capricorn</i> (Trevor Powers album) 2020 studio album by Trevor Powers

Capricorn is the second studio album released by American musician Trevor Powers under his own name, after previously releasing three studio albums under the name Youth Lagoon. It was released on July 29, 2020 via Bandcamp, including a limited edition run of cassette tapes and book, before being released digitally everywhere on July 31, 2020 via Fat Possum Records.

<i>Shamir</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Shamir

Shamir is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Shamir. The album was self-released by the artist on October 2, 2020.

<i>Glowing in the Dark</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Django Django

Glowing in the Dark is the fourth studio album by English band Django Django. It was released on 12 February 2021 by Because Music.

<i>Heaven Is a Junkyard</i> 2023 studio album by Youth Lagoon

Heaven Is a Junkyard is the fourth studio album by Boise, Idaho-based musician Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project. It was released on June 9, 2023, by Fat Possum Records. It marks Trevor Powers' return to the moniker after announcing the end of Youth Lagoon in 2016. It is his first album since recording two albums under his own name — 2018's Mulberry Violence and 2020's Capricorn. 

References

  1. ↑ Havens, Lyndsey (August 24, 2018). "Why Trevor Powers Had to 'Murder' Youth Lagoon In Order To Find Himself". Billboard . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Conner, Matt (October 29, 2018). "Trevor Powers on "Mulberry Violence" and Saying Goodbye to Youth Lagoon". Under The Radar . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (May 2, 2018). "Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers releases debut solo single, "Playwright"". BrooklynVegan . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Trevor Powers announces debut album 'Mulberry Violence', shares two new tracks 'Ache' and 'Plaster Saint'". DIY . May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Katzif, Mike (August 9, 2018). "As Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers Goes Solo, 'Mulberry Violence' Expands". NPR . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Mulberry Violence by Trevor Powers reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 "Critic Reviews for Mulberry Violence - Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher. "Mulberry Violence - Trevor Powers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Roseblade, Nick (August 17, 2018). "Trevor Powers - Mulberry Violence". DIY . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Trevor Powers - Mulberry Violence | Album Review". Earbuddy.net. August 13, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Mohammed, Jenna (August 14, 2018). "Trevor Powers Mulberry Violence". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Kinney, Fergal (August 17, 2018). "Trevor Powers - Mulberry Violence - Album review". Loud and Quiet . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 "Trevor Powers - Mulberry Violence". Album Of The Year. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Greene, Jayson (August 18, 2020). "Trevor Powers: Mulberry Violence". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Pontecorvo, Adriane (August 15, 2018). "Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers Explores His Experimental Side on 'Mulberry Violence'". PopMatters . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (September 2018). "Q Magazine September 2018 UK : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.