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Composed, produced and arranged by Evangelia VS, the artist behind Abyss X, Freedom Doll is the culmination of a year of emotional unloading through songwriting, offering an introspective journey into the ocean of her mind. Produced and recorded between an artist residency near the Mayan jungle in Mexico and her Berlin home, the album chronicles transformations the performer tackled mentally during the writing process, tracing the rollercoaster of falling in love during the pandemic, as well as the pleasures and tribulations of womanhood.
Freedom Doll encapsulates the romantic escapade between her voice and the guitar. The amalgamation of seduction, sexual tension, vulnerability and assertiveness pulses throughout the entirety of the album, spiralling out of the cracks spawned from her vocal chords. From the twirling dance between her lush harmonies and the progressions of the acoustic guitar in tracks such as Ascend and From Hot to Cold, to the explosive confrontation between the metallic and operatic qualities of her voice, the searing sound of the electric guitar in industrial rock / psychedelic anthems such as Torture Grove and Banyana and the cathartic momentum found in the gospel inclined chants in A CHEW - Freedom Doll untethers the dramatics and theatricality that defines Abyss X’s vocal performance and music production, while maintaining the sensual vibrations of her creative essence.
Freedom Doll is the encapsulation of the Minoan woman, the elusive harlequin tiptoeing her way through the “circus of terror” that is living and loving her way through womanhood. With this visual reference, Abyss X pays tribute to her ancestors and their groundbreaking ancient artistry. The back cover of the vinyl features a reiteration of depictions of bulls leaping found in Minoan frescoes; an inherently male cultural act that in the ancient Minoan times presumably gave expression to a tension that underlies man's somewhat tenuous mastery of nature. Freedom Doll’s artwork challenges this preconceived notion through an eco-feminist approach, bringing the Minoan woman slash Gaia in the seat of the bull leaper, taming the unhinged and predominantly male earth - threatening human force.
credits
released September 8, 2023
All Songs Written, Arranged and Performed by Abyss X
Produced by Abyss X
Recorded at Casa Cascabel & Limbo Studio
Mixed by James Ginzburg
Mastered by Enyang Urbiks
Art Direction by Abyss X
Sleeve layout by Ciaran Birch
Photography by Andrew Thomas Huang
Leo Luchini: Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Bass, Drums, Bird Whistle
Crwlr: Electric Guitar
Will Ballantyne: Electric Guitar
Juliana Huxtable: Guest Vocals
Adam Sinclaire: Flute
Battle-Ax: Viola
Anastasia Patellis: Harp
Jealous Orgasm: Piano
Have been so looking forward to hearing this album and it does not disappoint! An absolutely masterful debut long player, perfect balance of art and the dance with not a single note, beat or sound out of place. Love it to bits!
I also HIGHLY recommend checking out his previous singles too, especially 'Whities012' for the track 'Volumes' - hands down one of the best songs I've heard in the last decade. Tip!!! Source Invisible
Straddling the threshold between studio performance and digital technique; the NYC artist applies "fake jazz" principles to synthpop. Bandcamp New & Notable May 2, 2024
A collection of tracks from the singer and multi-disciplinary artist's 111 collaboration series, featuring KMRU, Laraaji, and others. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 25, 2024
Two experimental ambient producers try their hand at 90s-style trip-hop, and the results are breathtaking. "Scorpio" is the winner, and its descending bass line, wounded vocals, and shimmering guitars ooze a uniquely tender but otherworldly vibe that's as bewitching as it is heartbroken. PannionSeer