The Otolith Post “Andromeda’s Wing” Video
Though it’s fair to call The Otolith‘s debut album, Folium Limina (review here), urgent on any number of levels as regards emotional resonance or sonic push, the surge at the beginning of second track “Andromeda’s Wing” is about as immediate as they get. And it’s pretty immediate, so there you go. That moment, especially coming out of album opener “Sing No Coda,” is crucial to the early impression the album makes, a claim to intensity present and, hopefully, future, that also maintains the atmosphere of the track before as it begins to unfold its melody from there. It is, in other words, one hell of a 30 seconds or so of music, and the nine minutes that follow are nothing to shake a stick at either.
Soar and crush, both readily on display across the record, are at the core of “Andromeda’s Wing,” but in one of the band’s most fortunate inheritances from members’ prior outfit SubRosa, their vision of post-metal is deftly arranged such that what essentially breaks down on paper to trades between loud parts and quiet parts are a richer experience than just the simple back and forth. And no, that’s not just an effect of the violins or the largesse of tone they captured in the studio. It’s in how everything comes together through the guitar, bass, synth, drums, vocals, and strings; a wholly consuming effect that can feel like a wash, totally overwhelming, or can be a world in which to dwell, depending entirely on the moment, the listener, and the course of the song in question.
Like much of Folium Limina, “Andromeda’s Wing” is complex and engrossing, severe and melodic, a beauty-in-darkness kind of pummel and spread that is emblematic of the individualized creative spirit that makes the album so substantial. I haven’t decided yet if it counts as a debut, really, since it’s more like a lineup and name change than a new band being formed, but if it is, it’s the best one of 2022. Maybe that’s a thing worth celebrating anyway in the spirit of hope that they do more sometime in the next couple years. Or, you know, ever. I’d be satisfied with ever.
Enjoy the clip:
The Otolith, “Andromeda’s Wing” official video
Salt Lake City’s symphonic doom and post-metal unit THE OTOLITH (with members of SubRosa) share their brand new “Andromeda’s Wing” video today. Their debut album “Folium Limina” is out now on Blues Funeral Recordings.
About the video, the band says: “We wrote this song in Levi’s [Hanna, guitar] basement during the winter, huddled in a circle of chairs next to his computer and his pinball machine. It came together over a couple of weeks, and at one point, Kim [Cordray, violin/vocals] had a beautiful idea for an outro vocal melody and some lyrics. Then I connected her idea with these recurring dreams I have about aliens. After that the lyrics sort of tumbled out. The protagonist is sleepwalking in the deep countryside, passing by nocturnal animals who watch as she journeys. She has the feeling of leaving her body and looking down at herself in the road. She comes to a natural spring and speaks with alien visitors about what can be done to slow the destruction of the planet.”
THE OTOLITH is the avant-garde doom and post-metal band formed by former SubRosa members Kim Cordray, Levi Hanna, Andy Patterson and Sarah Pendleton, alongside bassist Matt Brotherton. Following the same muse of cathartic and cataclysmic melancholy as their previous outfit, their debut album “Folium Limina” draws no line between beauty and doom, with ghostly symphonic strings interlacing with crushing bass, guitar and percussion, while all four vocalists conduct signals across time and space to arrive through cosmic storms to a sea of liquid stars. A cathartic and mind-elevating experience without a doubt!
THE OTOLITH is
Kim Cordray – Violin, Vocals
Levi Hanna – Guitar, Vocals
Andy Patterson – Drums, Percussion
Matt Brotherton – Bass Guitar, Vocals
Sarah Pendleton – Violin, Lead Vocals
The Otolith, Folium Limina (2022)
Blues Funeral Recordings on Bandcamp
Blues Funeral Recordings on Instagram
Blues Funeral Recordings on Facebook
Blues Funeral Recordings website
Tags: Blues Funeral Recordings, Folium Limina, Salt Lake City, The Otolith, The Otolith Folium Limina, Utah
A remarkable album. A complete journey from start to finish. Once again you’ve brought music to my attention I would have otherwise missed. Thank you.