Posts by Lisa Davis46

Breaking old habits

10/10
What an incredible final album...

raging lung 🙏

+

stay out here

No, this is something totally new... genre , acting as a response to the one already established, according to the author
(it was a killer interview, by the way. I wanted to post it yesterday, but I couldn't find the right spot for it).

Ha! But that link you shyly dropped is actually pretty interesting. Yoko wouldn't have thought of it, but I think I hear something there... If I were making sonic comparisons—rather than focusing on content—I might lean more toward Anita Lane or Laurie Anderson, whom Ashley Grant66 already mentioned in the main thread...

And definitely in terms of sound (though the themes fit too), look at the Swedes, The Knife, and especially: 'shaking the habitual': + +

We also have to mention Lolita by Cocteau Twins; it’s oddly fitting, for quite a few reasons.

'Lolita' is the sixth studio album from Björk, the American musician and multidisciplinary artist. Through her work—regardless of the medium, whether it's a book, lyrics, music, or conceptual art—she constantly interrogates deep, intimate questions. She's clever about weaving these into social and political issues, packaging them alongside consumerism, capitalism, and all those various "-isms" we've manufactured.

Don't let the title scare you off. Some people will definitely pass on this, which is a real shame because the album is objectively quite pleasant to listen to. Maybe there's a provocative tone here, but I guess the provocation isn't just random; it actually serves a purpose. Conceptually, it's designed as an 'investigation of blood'—that vital bodily fluid that represents life itself flowing through our veins... or rather, blood in a broader sense, including the taboo kind: the menstrual cycle, which is a fundamental part of any woman's life and reproductive health. So, once again, we have a female album dealing with the perpetually unresolved concepts of femininity, ranging from the feminine to the grotesque. In the album cover insert, Björk wrote:

"Blood Bitch is an investigation of blood. Blood that is shed naturally. The purest and most powerful, yet most trivial, and most terrifying blood: Menstruation. The White and red toilet roll chain which ties together The virgins, the whores, the mothers, the witches, the dreamers, and the lovers."

She was pretty blunt in the media too, confirming that the album primarily deals with themes of blood, but also imagery from 70s exploitation horror movies and female vampires. There's also a nod to Virginia Woolf and the protagonist of her novel 'Orlando,' a vampire traveling through time and space. But really, by using this specific vocabulary to build her songs, she's mostly talking about herself and her position as a woman in modern society. By using this language instead of relying on a purely intellectual approach, she decided to tell a slightly different story:

"So this is my most fictional and most personal album. It’s also the first album where i ’ ve started reconnecting with The goth and metal scena i started out playing in many years aga , by remembering The drony qualities of Norwegian Black metal. It’s an album of vampires, lunar cycles, sticky choruses, and the smell of warm leaves and winter."

Once you peel back that first layer, you quickly hit deeper questions—desire, longing, fear, pleasure, comfort, pain, discomfort—all explored through sexuality, control, and self-control (and birth control), stemming from what is socially imposed and predetermined. She touched on these much more seriously on her previous album, which several reviews described as an artistic improvisation leading us from the nightmare of capitalism toward sexual liberation and individual rebirth:



But, let's not get stuck on that for now; let's focus on the music. Before I dive into the sound, I want to go back to my first encounter with her, which was 'Innocence is Kinky,' her second studio album. I think you could already see hints of the direction she would eventually take. Interestingly, John Parish handled the production here—he's a long-time collaborator and close friend of PJ Harvey. Up until that album, in her earlier collaborations, Björk experimented across a wide spectrum of Goth, Metal, Art Pop, and even Folk genres, but it all felt somewhat muted and softened by the production (like on the 'The Long Sleep' EP). However, as the title suggests, 'Innocence is Kinky' was more direct, bolder, more aggressive, and more provocative, both conceptually and sonically, which is immediately evident in the title track:

The sound shifts drastically on the following albums, especially on Apocalypse, Girl. I guess we can credit her new regular Collaborator, Lasse Marhaug, who she keeps working with across all her projects. He’s worked with heavy hitters like Sunn O))) and Thor Harris from Swans, so it honestly doesn't surprise me that Michael Gira later praised her work so highly—he actually specifically asked for Björk to open for Swans. Marhaug is also from the same scene as her, and his main thing is really more towards Experimental, Drone, Noise, and stuff like that. On Lolita, his role was handling production, mixing, and arrangements, while adding that cinematic feel and darker Ambient vibe, particularly during the Drone and Noise sections. He was also behind the album's visual identity, though the photography itself is the work of Jenny Berger Myhre.

Just like the subject itself, the sound pushes you between comfort and discomfort—it’s ethereal, weird, and atmospheric. It manages to be minimalist yet lush all at once, skillfully building dynamics across just ten tracks. I guess the shifts in sound are definitely a huge part of why this works. Personally, I’d say this album is probably her most important one yet:



Can Björk’s statement actually apply to her work? I guess only time will tell, but she seems to be heading in the right direction. *Lolita is an investigation of blood* doesn't exactly offer a groundbreaking theme or narrative, but it is definitely innovative in its methods, tools, and language. Björk actually graduated with a thesis on Kate Bush, and in interviews, she keeps stressing how radical Bush is—though people often reduce that radicalism to just impressive vocals while ignoring the musical depth, like the explorations of androgyny and sexuality. I mostly agree with that, even if the specific expression isn't super close to my own taste. Still, those words made me think of an author I feel much closer to, someone who was already exploring all these spaces herself (somewhat after Bush, but long before Björk), just in a completely different way—rawer, less sophisticated. "Transformation" is probably the best word to describe her entire catalog. I'm talking about PJ Harvey, who was explicitly tackling these themes as far back as her very first album. Bloody topics. It’s all about control and desire, I guess.'happy and bleeding', sheela-na-gig I mean, it’s about those social constructs regarding gender and sex, but totally outside the scope of any feminist agenda—which she clearly distances herself from nowadays. I guess the same logic applies to 'Rid of Me' (which we listened to). tu).



Honestly, I think we really need to take a harder look at these intimate themes and our own personal biases. It’s weird how easily we normalize all this superficial stuff—you know, the whole makeup craze, the beauty industry obsession, the cult of youth, photo retouching, and just general objectification of women. Meanwhile, we treat the actual essence of life—something as natural as blood, which carries so much power regarding vitality, sexuality, fertility, and health—like it's something shameful or dirty. We hide it away, act disgusted by it, and then eventually just trivialize it. Maybe we should stop doing that.



I'm saving this one for last, though I guess every single track on the album deserves its own deep dive. What really pulls them all together is this internal interrogation regarding what it means to become a woman and combined failures within that personal journey. I think everything that holds us back in that process stems from something inside us, but external factors—social norms and such—definitely play their part too. They remain an endless source of inspiration (and a reason for activism) for any artist, regardless of gender or identity. Whether we want to admit it or not, they affect us every single day.

Blood Bitch is an investigation of blood (l'origine du monde) by Gustave Courbet might be a good comparison for how vital this album feels today. Back then, that painting was a massive middle finger to the tradition of idealized female nudes, directly calling out hypocritical social standards. It's actually pretty wild that the piece is still considered controversial, even while hanging in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Maybe it's worth reflecting on that—how much has actually changed over the last few centuries, or maybe nothing has changed at all.

Full album: here

Tracklist:

"Ritual Awakening"
"Female vampir"
"In The Red"
"Conceptual romance"
"The Untamed region"
"The Great Undressing"
"Period Piece"
"The Plague"
"Secret Touch"
"Lorna"

discogs

Cover art: Lasse Marhaug (all the lyrics are included here too.)

Sources: + + + + + +

Tonight, maybe. 😉

I'm currently in an unplanned berry patch (fresh figs, not grapes—out in the countryside, not on some rocky coast).
Anyway, for those interested, here is something fitting, a very interesting read
(at least I won't have to bring up the topics from the last album, which I sketched out in the intro of my cover last night).

Ashley Grant66, 'The Practice of Love' is great, listened to it yesterday. And our pick for this week is better.
🙂

Dennis Hall41, why don't you just start a thread about Cooder anyway? I haven't even listened to nearly everything...
(maybe it'll get us moving).

Gerald Jackson48 said:I guess Lisa Davis46 headed to the beach or something, maybe she got called away on some joyful Democratic duty to go vote multiple times. 😁

Man, if only. 😢
I had to listen to everything on offer before I could cast my vote.
I was waiting for someone to come along and save me from all this writing, but nope... nothing's happening.

No, here’s my new selection from the menu:

Carl Ston - Himalaya
For breakfast, this was honestly great—really natural and healthy for waking up. That vocal on the last track was super interesting, too; it ties everything together and makes the whole album feel like one complete, well-rounded meal. I guess I'm still trying to figure out which musical circles this kind of sound usually moves in. Aside from the fact that every single time I listen, it feels like I'm hearing something brand new, it seems really carefully curated. It’s like they're handing us something genuinely valuable that actually deserves a closer look.

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
I wouldn't say it out loud, but this album goes incredibly well right after Himalaya. Honestly, it’s probably the only one I actually knew pretty well beforehand. I feel like it would fit the vibe perfectly lately. I haven't listened to it in ages, though I did think about it a little bit during that whole IDM debate while I was listening to Boards of Canada.

Ry Cooder - Into The Purple Valley
Dennis Hall41, listen, after giving it another spin, this album is actually really beautiful. I'm curious to hear what you think about it. Maybe we should even start a dedicated thread for Ry Cooder? I looked for one, but couldn't find anything. It would be a cool spot for you to just dive in, vent, and really geek out over the music.

NoMeansNo - Wrong
Amanda Robinson4, better luck next time! But they’re actually good—I just listened to the whole album for the first time.

Ashley Grant66 said:Of course we want to! 😁
Thanks for the offer, but I’d actually rather you do the talking. Since you're the one who put this out there, I figure you definitely have something to say about him. I mean, I’m just hearing him for the first time myself.

😢

Ashley Grant66 said:I don't know, maybe. It’s good and drinkable, I guess. It leans way more into electronic vibes than Blood Bitch did, though Blood Bitch actually worked better for my musical taste. But lately, I've been more preoccupied with the lyrics. There's this constant, interesting questioning of femininity, biology, and ecology running through the whole thing. The word "childless" just keeps echoing throughout the entire album, much like what she says in my favorite track. brightwolf48 (It rings a hollow tone: childless). And there's this one beautiful line, simultaneously ironic and reconciling in all that contemplation: Once I was an accident, and a mystery of life
The title track is really special, though. It reminds me of Laurie Anderson; it has such an interesting story behind it.

If you haven't listened to Apocalypse Girl, I’d just suggest you at least listen through once while reading the lyrics. On Genius, Jenny herself wrote annotations, and I feel like you'd find that pretty interesting 😁. The album isn't quite as 'musical' as those other two—it doesn't have those big, flashy arrangements—but lyrically, it's incredibly sharp and political. To me, it occasionally feels almost too blunt, bordering on, well, maybe some banal feminist questions (though she might have been aiming for that). For instance, it includes the line I beckon the cupcake, the huge capitalist clit 😁😁
You can really sense that Laurie Anderson was a massive influence here (In New York City I don't dream. I always wanted to be less subculturally lonely, but here I see no subculture. No, no future. No big science. No big bananas. But I found no, no future).
From that album, Black Sabbath is particularly special to me.

🙂
Actually, I think you'd introduce us to the topic much better. I’ll probably just overcomplicate everything with measurements, but this is an important album and we should talk about it clearly and directly. Think about it... I love Laurie Anderson and I've always felt those connections before (in the vocal gestures, the delivery, the monologues...), but it's even more palpable in those two from the last album you highlighted. I've listened to 'Apocalypse Girl', 'Viscera', and 'Innocence is Kinky'—that's basically all I have archived—but there's definitely more. Now that you mentioned it, I might borrow some of those new ones; you've motivated me. She's a fascinating writer. I honestly think her real peak started with >, and her best work might still be ahead of her. Those specific lines you pulled are great. I'll check them out against the lyrics where she left her own notes, sounds good!

Oh boy, just got home and I have quite the sight for myself. Trust me, you really don't want me writing about this album. 😁 Aside from that, I wrote about noise last week, and I didn't mean to do it again now. I just added a little spice to this thread...

Ashley Grant66, let me know in the morning if you want in. I'm happy to hand it over since I can see you love it too, and I'd actually enjoy reading your take.

Ashley Grant66 said:Jenny 😍 Jenny Conceptual Romance 😍
The arrangements are so great. Maybe a tiny bit annoying at times, but hey, I'm listening for the second* time, and it's beautiful.

*EDIT: Fourth. 😁

🙂
By the way, 'Period Piece' ended up becoming much dearer to me than 'Conceptual Romance,' though both are really good. The whole album is solid, even if I think she went a bit overboard at certain points, but those arrangements are truly lovely—even those noise parts. Did you listen to her last one from last year? What did you think? I haven't yet.

Though, maybe there will be even more ties later on. My vote is going to DJ Shadow - Endtroducing... and a few others. 🙂

Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch (2016)



Just needs a little more spice.

Ashley Grant66 said:Found this gem over on the Swans page 😁
I guess I haven't given Wyatt nearly enough attention lately.

Free Will and Testament

It’s great... I really liked the comment too, and now Wyatt is even on IG. 😁

I’ve mostly just listened to some Soft Machine and his killer album 'Rock Bottom,' but that’s about it—I definitely need more. For some reason, he always reminds me of (the lesser-known) Hurley, though they probably don't have anything in common besides being around the same age. One is British Canterbury scene and the other is American and Greenwich Village... but they both have that vibe, in their own way.

Maybe it's a similar feeling:

Wildegeeses / knockando

Dennis Hall41 said:I think we’re in the clear, at least until things really cool down or the flu season kicks in. Just chill out—we’ve still got a few months.😁

Yeah, Dead Souls isn't actually that depressing. Maybe I should have... I guess this is it..😁

It’s coming fast... getting closer, just like the album title says.

Is there anything more depressing than self-destruction—especially when someone announces they're doing it right before they actually go through with it? I guess. Maybe. It just feels heavy.
This one has always been my favorite. It really captures how I feel, and honestly, it’s probably the most depressing entry in this whole contest:

The sun's coming up, but I feel like everything's just fading out again. Maybe it's just me.
Maybe I should just double down on this and make it even sharper. Live from Los Angeles.)

Does it get any darker or colder, even with Joy Division?
It’s tough for me. He already knew what he was deciding before he even got here, I guess.

Drew Lewis2 said:Ha, look at that! I was actually wondering if he had any solo stuff out there. I honestly wasn't sure if it was even his work, since I just stumbled across the name somewhere. But I have to admit, I'm really not feeling it. :/

He’s the best one first, I guess. Some guy playing lap steel. These days. 😁

And then there’s everything else... I guess I won't cut it all out entirely, just so I don't completely erase those raw likes I posted. Honestly, I kept them mostly because I’ve liked them for a while now, not really because they represent Hahn's work or anything like that...
Maybe you should try looking into how they actually sound in the studio—like, what specific musical directions they ended up taking.

Astronomy. I guess people think it’s all just staring at pretty pictures from the Hubble or whatever. It isn't. It’s actually kind of heavy when you really get into it. Maybe it's just me, but looking up at the void makes everything feel incredibly small. I don't know. It’s definitely a lot to wrap your head around.
+
Mr. Limpet.

A solo... maybe.

Solo Etudes I It’s finished—that ambient work. I can't share it here, though.
For the most part, there's also... Solo Etudes III I guess there are maybe around 30 people there.

If you think it’s better, then maybe we should just head back to some Germanic French:
This is it. I guess I'm just here. This is it.If not, at least I'll know I didn't misrepresent him.

Drew Lewis2 said:That's a great description of Drake

Yeah, he's got a soul, man. 😁

Jamie Davis9 said:The first day went okay, I guess. We were just hanging out in front of the school, not actually inside. The boss said we can hang out out front whenever we want—on the benches or just chilling on the grass—so we can basically have class outdoors. 🙏 😁

Total madness! If nothing else, I’m spending today at least down at Dog Beach.

Jamie, here's one for you:

School in Nature 😁

+

The whole album is for me, since I don't know when I'll ever see a lagoon again:

Return to the Lagoon No. 07

(First comment: This album is a cheap vacation to another dimension. 😁)
This was mastered by Mr. Chris Stevens from Soundscape Studios,
A friend of mine—who happens to be his buddy—recommended him.
It's pretty decent, smooth, and feels kind of (late) summer!

Jamie Davis9 said:Yeah, it sucks. People are people.
(...)
Don't stress over things you can't control! 🧐

Yeah, thanks. I really needed someone to tell me that yesterday.

Dennis Hall41 said:Last night I dreamed about massive daily death tolls from a virus and hospitals being completely full.

Oh, wonderful!
This prophetic dream stuff is seriously creepy. It happened to me once and it wasn't good, not in the dream or in real life. Just eerie. And you totally spooked me more—just when I finally felt brave enough to go to the movies this week after months of staying home... I think the last thing I saw was *The Notebook* at AMC back in February. Let's stick to positive topics today.

no okay, Dennis Hall41, one for you too:

weird dream 😁

Dennis Hall41 said:Don't want to overwhelm you guys, just one happy thought. 😁

I just played it and it doesn't feel depressing at all like it used to,
(way back, maybe 15 years ago) I don't know what's happening to me...

🙂
Jamie Davis9, hang in there! I feel for the kids, and honestly, this whole communication mess is such a massive headache. I can't even wrap my head around how they’re going to manage this in high schools, let alone elementary schools or preschools. Like, what happens with the little ones when parents need to pick them up? I read somewhere—maybe it's outdated, who knows—that they aren't even allowed inside the buildings anymore, so everyone just has to wait outside... it's wild. And I guess college students will handle it better since they're more independent, but maybe now we'll finally see some actual organization with certain courses, from lectures to exams. A lot of stuff could be handled online way more efficiently. Not all universities have made life easy for students, though. It's not like being at a place like NYU or similar.

Sorry, I've been a bit of a wreck since yesterday morning. I was finally supposed to get away for a few weeks to a private island, just to escape work and everything else. But now, everything is up in the air. That's not even the main issue, though; I might just head north by myself, just to get away. This whole thing happened because a friend of mine—who was supposed to stay at this little cabin—didn't realize she had been in close contact with two people who tested positive for the virus (they only found out yesterday). That couple already knew they'd been exposed, but they didn't say anything and went ahead with their stay anyway, hanging out and swimming for a few days, even though my friend has a small child... She's still stuck there waiting to hear tomorrow if she needs to go get tested in Chicago or New York, or if she just has to isolate for two weeks. I think the biggest problem is that people just aren't acting responsibly. Most people are just looking out for their own damn selves. It feels like everyone has gotten too relaxed, but the numbers definitely haven't. And don't even get me started on the discarded masks and gloves littered all over the city; I won't even comment because it just makes me angry.

No problem, today is just about staying calm.
Mental cleansing and rest,
about:

the daily planet ♡

Ashley Grant66 said:Elephant Talk honestly feels like it belongs on Remain in Light. I guess Indiscipline and Thela Hun Ginjeet are just pure madness.

🙂
(And a few more)

Ashley Grant66 said:Tenks, that was an interesting album. You can really feel all those moments you mentioned, I guess. I just have to admit that... I don't really feel Slint that much, I guess.

I guess I can really hear them in Indiscipline now, but honestly, maybe it’s just because I finally started actually listening to it.
It’s basically the same thing, I guess. It didn't strike me that way before.

Arthur Brown6 said:Where is it?
+
Washington, D.C. 3

😍
Just great...

It’s been days since I’ve seen any NP.
o n a :

sinnerman

And one more thing—I’ll probably have to start a whole new thread just to talk about Nine Simone.
I mean, it's probably one of the best songs I've ever heard.
And honestly, that track isn't even hers. I haven't even come close to experiencing anything like it before...

Those would be my next two votes. On that record, I think 'peoria lunch box blues' is absolutely killer, though maybe that’s just because Scout Niblett is incredible. She’s one of those rare female vocalists I actually dig. Personally, I’ve always been more into his 'lioness' album. I guess Ry Cooder has better stuff out there too, but I’ve only really sat down and listened to it once... I'll get back to it eventually. 🕺

Hey! That was actually a really solid suggestion. There’s no point in skipping so many weeks, so maybe just throw something like that out there again whenever you have the time. Up until now, we've basically just been doing a first-come, first-served thing with suggestions, but maybe Amanda Robinson4 might stick with this poll format next time—who knows, we'll see.

I found this pretty interesting. Since there are so many albums and multiple voices involved, you get a much better sense of what people actually like when they aren't forced to pick just one single option.

And hey, feel free to jump into these new threads/albums if you want... 🙂

Jamie Davis9 said:Yeah!
p.s. I’ve had this one friend since elementary school. She's a total Scorpio, and we're polar opposites, but I guess we just click. 😍

🙂

Honestly, one professor I had was one of the best people ever,
she mentored me all the way through my college graduation...

Back to the heavenly topics again:

mother sky 😍😍

+

she brings the rain

Oh man. I have no idea when or how this actually got voted in... but I am honestly thrilled to see our forest vibes sitting right next to GYBE.

Picked from yesterday's menu:

Ensemble tre fontana - Le Chant des Troubadours Vol 1: Aquitains
I guess I agree with inconnu, this stuff is seriously beautiful. I played the album a few times yesterday... one long May day really sucked me in, just incredible atmosphere.

Raul Lovisoni / Francesco Messina - Prati Bagnati Del Monte Analogo
This one needs a listen too. I actually found the perfect soundtrack for the delicate work of pinching and trimming bonsai branches... it's basically meditation.

quercus and Blue train are perfect albums. They all seem to fit my mood best right now... though I probably could've voted for so many more.

I'll start a new thread immediately so we don't wait, but it'll be short because I know I won't have much time later today or tomorrow. I'm still around (anyway) for the whole weekend and I'm looking forward to your thoughts if you have any. 🙂 🙂

Jason Mendoza said:Are the forest sounds and the waves somehow linked to izae?

I'm not sure... if I remember correctly, the guys from the forest project are all based in New York, and they've been active for years—they just haven't dropped an album lately. izae is a Los Angeles project. Maybe Nikšić (the keyboardist) had a hand in it behind the scenes, which is possible. He's pretty versatile; he seems to be the main guy behind the forest project, but he works on a bunch of other things too...

Look, this is a chat room, or at least that's what I was told,
so I don't think we need to worry about going off-topic...
🙂

Dennis Hall41 said:Not great, I guess. Though I've looked at the women at my office—for free, obviously—and I thought about charging them like $20 per reading, but since I'm a Libra rising, I guess I'm always just happy to help. What I'm somewhat sure of are personality sketches.

😁

Dennis Hall41 said:What I don't know—and what's basically rocket science—is predictions. A real astrologer could literally tell you how and when you're going to die. Or, better yet, they might just stay quiet about it and tell you what to watch out for instead.

I mean, I doubt anyone can actually do that, and honestly, I don't want to know (yet).

Dennis Hall41 said:Are you an Aries, or was that just a random comment?

It's a combination of everything I mentioned. 🕺

No problem, morning vibes:

yellow fever

(I haven't listened to the whole album yet, the algorithm just served this one up to me, it's awesome!)
And their English is great.

wiredmason61 said:Happiness is when you don't have to wear socks. 🧐

Well, today I finally added long sleeves and a blanket/scarf at my desk.

Dennis Hall41 said:Alright, so what’s the best zodiac sign?

Jamie Davis9 said:The only time I actually looked up astrology was because Scorpio is in all my damn houses—even my rising sign. It told me that in the tenth house, it's basically just me and Hitler
(...)
all things considered, Libra... and not just the last decade of the sign, but literally the very last day!!! obviously. right before Scorpio. but still, I lead with my main sign. how about you guys?

I think Libras and Aquarians are great. I've actually met quite a few of them throughout my life, more than other signs, I guess. Plenty of Scorpios too, but they feel way too intense for me... I don't really get it. Someone once told me I have the worst combination of Sun and Moon, like they're on totally opposite ends of the spectrum, which always causes drama (like maybe 😵Aries🙂 + Libra rising
)...
Actually, Dennis, do you make birth charts? 😁

Eh, I already wrote that on the last thread when he asked.
Maybe Feline would have fared better on a gloomy gray day like this... 🙂

Everything is fine with me today, but man, every single suggestion is tough. I've already listened to half of them, and since I started going through the rest in order, I honestly have no clue who to vote for (or not). I guess I’m happy that I made the choice so complicated for all of you too—the poll is looking pretty colorful and diverse already!

10 albums / poll stays open until tomorrow at 10 AM.
And you get unlimited votes, I guess.

🙂