Doll – Comfort is a Disease –
Cassette/Download – 2021- Virtues
https://xaylababydoll.bandcamp.com/album/comfort-is-a-disease
https://daisyelectronics.bandcamp.com/
Doll has been releasing since
2019 and is the project of one Xayla Daisy. There have been recordings on many
labels, this is Doll’s first release on Virtues. This is one project that I
have been meaning to review for a long time, so now is the time.
The torture Garden seems to be
centred around a field recording of busy city life, the recording sounds busy
and lively, just as a field recording it sounds good, I imagine myself there as
the sounds play out. There seems to be a wave of distortion, it could be
surrounding noise. Then, what sounds like either single instruments or
something like a singing bowl begins to make ominous tones over the sounds. It
sounds odd like early Ultra did, in some ways like nothing else that is around
now.
Further field creepiness is
demonstrated on Hair in My Mouth, Rotting Meat in my Pocket. Something gets hit
forming a slow percussion as synthesisers give off notes of light melody. The
creepiness is also simultaneously beautiful – by now I am relishing the unique
beauty of Doll.
Aggressive confrontation and
shouting play out as tones play over the top creating Water Flow. This is darker
in sound than Rotting Meat… it is suspenseful and at times cinematic, especially
as the shouting turns to a Water flow. Samples of metal being clanged and
recordings of a man giving a pointed, abusive dialogue are overlaid by tones
and drones – this is A Softer Angel. Everything works together beautifully as
the mans comments get nastier.
The title track Comfort is a
Disease like the others has a central field recording – this one sounds wet and
splashy. I am usure what is going on. Tones play out over the top of it, the two
converse for a long time. Drones appear at some point, clashing and clanging go
off in the background, this turns to sharp tones and strings being abused. The
longer track length allows for more changes and developments to happen in the
passage of sound. It all makes for an effective sonic landscape; even as it
dies out and we are left with water, it is beautiful. We reach the end with
Becoming Concrete, subtle distortion and synth harmonies play out, like a
broken broadcast from Phoenix Arizona.
I would describe this project
as definitely being out on its own, following its own path. The album is the
product of unique vision and an ambitious sound. I think this is a great
release and would happily recommend it to anyone.
Army of One 2021
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