Striking in many ways, this excellent eponymous debut album by the Savages drummer Fay Milton brings together an array of female and non-binary collaborators, not only celebrating a sisterhood, but also one that has musical echoes of Massive Attack, with powerful songs addressing themes in uncertain and dangerous world, including the climate crisis. With music variously thunderous, dark, eclectic, moody, passionate, sensual, and provocative, the range of the 10 guest vocalists, including some longtime friends, is dynamically wide, underpinned in the backline by her old friend and Savages bassist Ayse Hassan, an obvious choice and match for her own ferocious drum playing. Sounding like a restless, bruised sky, opener Little Dark features vocals by Shingai, ex-frontwoman of The Noisettes. Elena Tonra, who records as Ex:Re, sensually sings across the particularly Massive Attack reminiscent single Shadows, one which builds and swells musically with ripples of piano while Tonra tells of increasing uncertainty and insecurity, and dreams of “losing all my fucking teeth”. Delilah Holliday half sings, half raps on the moodily caged Animal, preparing us for the punchy, lustful, dominatrix figure of Salvia narrating with fast, clear diction and taking no prisoners on the dark, industrial, anvil clanging Fuckboy. While those three singles can be seen as centrepieces, there’s plenty of range and power elsewhere. There’s not a weak link among them, every further track brings something poetic, stirring, and evocative. For instance, Shadow Stevie brings a beautiful, more fragile, soulful presence on the lovely piano and strings-based Golden, Bess Atwell’s soaring purity stands out on Darling Boulevard, Grove brings the beats, rap and energy on the clubby Bounce, but arguably best comes last in 22nd Century, a defiant, powerful epic number led by singer Harriet Rock, theatrically spanning eras of protest and an impending dystopian meltdown disaster. A fabulous release with a cast of talent channelled to their heights. Out on Bella Union.
Goddess aka Fay Milton
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