Unreality (album)

Last updated
Unreality
SRSQ Unreality.jpg
Studio album by
SRSQ
ReleasedOctober 26, 2018
Genre Ethereal dark wave
Length39:21
Label Dais
Producer Matia Simovich
SRSQ chronology
Unreality
(2018)		Ever Crashing
(2022)
Singles from Unreality
  1. "The Martyr"
    Released: August 22, 2018

Unreality is the debut solo album by Kennedy Ashlyn under the alias SRSQ. The album was released on October 26, 2018, by Dais Records. The project came after Ashlyn retired Them Are Us Too, her duo with Cash Askew, after Askew died in 2016. It was preceded by one single, "The Martyr". The album was received positively by critics, who compared its ethereal dark wave sound to bands such as Cocteau Twins and called its lyrics uplifting and celebratory.

Contents

Background

Prior to SRSQ, Ashlyn was one half of the dream pop and dark wave duo Them Are Us Too with Cash Askew. [1] The duo formed in 2012 and released one EP and one album together in 2015. [1] Askew died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in 2016. [1] Ashlyn subsequently completed Them Are Us Too's second album, Amends, which was released in June 2018. [1] With Them Are Us Too officially disbanded after Amends, [2] Ashlyn moved on to her solo career as SRSQ, which had started with her first live performance under the name in May 2017. [3]

Ashlyn went into the album knowing its sound would be informed by her work with Them Are Us Too, and that its fundamental aspects will always be connected to Askew. [4]

Release

The album was first announced on August 24, 2018, [5] and released on October 26 by Dais Records. [6] The album was preceded by one single, "The Martyr", which was released on August 22. [7] The album name came from Ashlyn's belief that the album speaks to "trying to process what a surreal world feels like in the wake of such a reality". [4]

Style

The music of Unreality has been called ethereal dark wave while also including influences of post-punk and neoclassical music. [6] It has been compared to the output of the English record label 4AD, [8] [6] especially the 4AD band Cocteau Twins and their "goth-minded kin". [8] Ashlyn's vocals have been compared to Cocteau Twins vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and fellow 4AD alum Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard, [6] as well as late-era David Bowie and Zola Jesus. [4] The album has also been said to continue the musical direction of Ashlyn's former duo Them Are Us Too, though with "an added level of poignancy". [9]

Though the album comes after Askew's death, the lyrics are noted as uplifting and celebratory, [9] [8] with Ashlyn sounding "utterly grateful" to have known Askew [9] and offering hope while honoring Askew's memory. [8]

Reception

Unreality ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Pitchfork 6.9/10 [8]
PopMatters 7/10 [6]

AllMusic's Paul Simpson called Unreality an "immensely beautiful, affecting record." [9] PopMatters 's Spyros Stasis said the album "feels a bit downgraded in terms of texture" and works best when Ashlyn experiments with additions of noise or subtle glitching sounds, which she only leans into occasionally but those moments are among the album's most powerful. [6] Stasis concludes by calling the album "overall interesting" and revealing of Ashlyn's "further potential". [6]

Critics consistently praised Ashlyn's vocals, calling them "astounding" [9] and the "singular center of the record" [6] with which she delivers "an unbelievable performance." [6] Pitchfork 's Larry Fitzmaurice noted that while the layers of "incantatory spoken-word" and "high-register vocal acrobatics" would typically be called "otherworldly", Ashlyn's have a "lovely human imperfection". [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kennedy Ashlyn.

Unreality track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Prelude"2:23
2."The Martyr"4:22
3."Cherish"4:50
4."Procession"5:43
5."Mixed Tide"6:45
6."No Reason"2:31
7."Permission"5:32
8."Only One"7:15
Total length:39:21

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. It emerged in Ireland and the United Kingdom in the late 1980s among neo-psychedelic groups who usually stood motionless during live performances in a detached, non-confrontational state. The name comes from the heavy use of effects pedals, as the performers were often looking down at their pedals during concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lush (band)</span> English rock band

Lush were an English rock band formed in London in 1987. The original line-up consisted of Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Steve Rippon and Chris Acland (drums). Phil King replaced Rippon in 1991. They were one of the first bands to have been described with the "shoegazing" label. Following the death of Acland, the group disbanded in 1996.

Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. It often overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze, and the two genre terms have at times been used interchangeably.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocteau Twins</span> Scottish rock band

Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde in 1983. The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects-laden sound and the soprano vocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language. They pioneered the 1980s alternative subgenre of dream pop and helped define what would become shoegaze.

<i>Head over Heels</i> (Cocteau Twins album) 1983 album by the Cocteau Twins

Head over Heels is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. The album was released on 24 October 1983 through the label 4AD. It featured the band's signature sound of "Guthrie's lush guitars under Fraser's mostly wordless vocals" and is considered an archetype of early ethereal wave music.

<i>Heaven or Las Vegas</i> 1990 studio album by Cocteau Twins

Heaven or Las Vegas is the sixth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 17 September 1990 by 4AD. Despite 4AD president Ivo Watts-Russell proclaiming it one of the best-ever releases on his label, he released the group from their contract at the end of 1990 because his relationship with the band had soured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Fraser</span> Scottish singer and member of the Cocteau Twins (born 1963)

Elizabeth Davidson Fraser is a Scottish singer. She was the vocalist for the band Cocteau Twins who achieved international success primarily during the fifteen years from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Their studio albums Victorialand (1986) and Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) both reached the top ten of the UK Album Charts, as well as other albums including Blue Bell Knoll (1988), Four-Calendar Café (1993) and Milk & Kisses (1996) charting on the Billboard 200 album charts in the United States as well as the top 20 in the UK. She also performed as part of the 4AD group This Mortal Coil, including the successful 1983 single "Song to the Siren", and as a guest with Massive Attack on their 1998 single "Teardrop".

Piano Magic was a musical collective formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London, England. Their sound has been described as ambient pop, post-rock, indietronica, dark wave, "arty baroque pop" and "English radiophonic soundscapers". While later releases saw them operating in a traditional band format, they originally intended to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute. Glen Johnson was the only remaining member from the original trio when the group disbanded in 2017.

<i>Treasure</i> (Cocteau Twins album) 1984 album by the Cocteau Twins

Treasure is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 12 November 1984 by 4AD. With this album, the band settled on what would, from then on, be their primary lineup: vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie and bass guitarist Simon Raymonde. The album also reflected the group's embrace of the distinctive ethereal sound they became associated with.

<i>Victorialand</i> 1986 album by the Cocteau Twins

Victorialand is the fourth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released by 4AD in 1986. Working without bassist Simon Raymonde, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and guitarist/producer Robin Guthrie opted for a subtler sound on the album.

<i>Blue Bell Knoll</i> 1988 studio album by Cocteau Twins

Blue Bell Knoll is the fifth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 19 September 1988 by 4AD. This was the band's first album to receive major-label distribution in the United States, as it was originally licensed by Capitol Records from 4AD for North American release. After a period of being out of print while 4AD reclaimed the American distribution rights for their back catalogue, the album was remastered by guitarist Robin Guthrie and reissued in 2003. Vocalist Elizabeth Fraser named the album after a peak in southern Utah called Bluebell Knoll.

Ethereal wave, also called ethereal darkwave, ethereal goth or simply ethereal, is a subgenre of dark wave music that is variously described as "gothic", "romantic", and "otherworldly". Developed in the early 1980s in the UK as an outgrowth of gothic rock, ethereal wave was mainly represented by 4AD bands such as Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, and early guitar-driven Dead Can Dance.

<i>Clan of Xymox</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Clan of Xymox

Clan of Xymox is the debut studio album by Dutch dark wave band Clan of Xymox, released 1 July 1985 by 4AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluebeard (song)</span> 1994 single by Cocteau Twins

"Bluebeard" is a single by the Cocteau Twins. It was released by Fontana Records in February 1994 as the second single to be released from the Four-Calendar Café album. All three members of the band – Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde – are credited as songwriters as well as producers.

<i>69</i> (album) 1988 studio album by A.R. Kane

69 is the debut album by British band A.R. Kane, released in 1988 on Rough Trade Records and produced by the band with additional co-production from Ray Shulman. Following the release of their acclaimed Lollita and Up Home! EPs, 69 developed the experimental "dream pop" style pioneered by the duo, blending elements of dub, acid rock, jazz, noise, and pop.

<i>Mad Love</i> (EP) 1990 EP by Lush

Mad Love is the debut extended play by the English alternative rock band Lush. It was released on 26 February 1990 by 4AD. Produced by Cocteau Twins guitarist Robin Guthrie, Mad Love was composed of four tracks—including a rerecording of "Thoughtforms", a song from Lush's debut mini-album Scar (1989).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drab Majesty</span> American band

Drab Majesty is an American musical project founded by Andrew Clinco in Los Angeles, California in 2011. Clinco, the drummer for the band Marriages, adopted the androgynous character of Deb Demure for the project. Keyboardist and vocalist Mona D joined the band in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn's Fingers</span> 1988 single by Cocteau Twins

"Carolyn's Fingers" is a single by Scottish alternative rock and dreampop band the Cocteau Twins, released in 1988 from their album Blue Bell Knoll. The song was released through the 4AD record label and credits all three members of the group – Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde as songwriters and well as producers.

Them Are Us Too was an American dream pop and darkwave band, consisting of Kennedy Ashlyn and Cash Askew. The duo formed in 2012 while both were students at University of California, Santa Cruz. After signing to Dais Records, they released their debut album Remain. Askew died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in 2016, after which Ashlyn finished their second album Amends, retired the Them Are Us Too name, and began releasing solo music as SRSQ.

SRSQ is the solo musical project of Texas-based musician Kennedy Ashlyn, formerly the vocalist and keyboardist for Santa Cruz, California duo Them Are Us Too. After Ashlyn's partner in that duo, Cash Askew, died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in 2016, Ashlyn retired their shared name and started making music as SRSQ. Her solo debut album, Unreality, was released on October 26, 2018, and her second album, Ever Crashing, was released on August 19, 2022, both by Dais Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Vera, Vicente (May 30, 2018). "After devastating loss, Them Are Us Too prepare final album Amends". The Bay Bridged. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Maril, Madge (September 19, 2018). "Them Are Us Too's Kennedy Ashlyn Speaks on Bringing Amends to Light". Women in Rock. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kennedy Ashlyn's Post-Tragedy Renaissance". V . March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Schube, Will (October 22, 2018). "SRSQ's Floating, Abstract Unreality Mines Grief You Can't Talk About". Vice . Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ "SRSQ Announces Debut Album Unreality". New Noise Magazine . August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Stasis, Spyros (October 24, 2018). "The Debut Record of SRSQ Arrives With a Dark '80s Nostalgia". PopMatters . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kameir, Rawiya (August 22, 2018). "SRSQ's "The Martyr" feels like flying". The Fader . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fitzmaurice, Larry (October 29, 2018). "SRSQ: Unreality Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Simpson, Paul. "SRSQ - Unreality". AllMusic . Retrieved May 10, 2023.
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.