A couple years back, we introduced the alter-ego of K‘s Emily Beanblossom: self-described “psychedelic witch wave” artist Ruby Fray. After releasing the emotional and eerie Pith LP in 2012, she’s about to put another record out. Its title, Grackle, the name of a raven-like black and blue bird, suggests she’s fully embraced the witching persona, if that wasn’t already obvious.
The third single off of Grackle is dark and somber. It opens with some twinkling midi chords and spreads out into a ballad featuring an array of synth notes and Beanblossom’s voice. While the instrumentation seems simple, it’s delicately layered—more than a few separate layers of synth chords interspersed above a high-pitched fog. And the vocals are nostalgic and chilling. Past comparisons to Lana Del Rey are certainly not empty—the timbre and range of her voice is uncannily similar. But Beanblossom’s vocals have a distinctive quality to them on this track, with their lo-fi filter and ghostly harmonies on the chorus, “If you’re not happy, you should go.” Arpeggiated chords that recall a music box fade into a final isolated, minor-key hum. The song brushes against feelings of solitude and resignation, casting an enduring shadow.
Grackle is out September 30. You can pick it up over at K Records.
