Evvol – Eternalism

A hypnagogic state...

"I have slept for a thousand years…" So boldly begins Evvol's debut, over an almost medicinal electronic beat and dreamy guitar washes. It's a message of intent – an encapsulation of the following nine steps of this sonic journey; a journey which takes as much influence from the inside of Robert Smith's head as their Berlin home. It's dramatic, nocturnal and plain gorgeous.

With a title like 'Eternalism' you'd be forgiven for expecting something overly romantic and black clad, and you wouldn't be wrong. However, the final product is so well constructed and produced that titles like 'No Love' can be forgiven. Evvol, comprising of two ladies of Irish and Australian origin making atmospheric darkwave (previously known as Kool Thing), are suitably a dual beast. Their tunes possess enough synth stabs and purposeful space to fit into the minimal production of today while also owning an emotional heft which revokes the best '90s trip-hop.

Take 'Starcrossed' – the album's highlight. Wonky samples and lost vocals build into a beautiful and trance-like pop number, wailing reverb-filled guitars add a hypnotic edge and a little dash of rock 'n' roll sex. As a song it never shows its hand until ready and displays a real understanding of the power of restraint. 'Sirius A' and 'Vega' are both classic 'art tracks', not quite two minutes of pointless instrumentation (and while we do love a good old fashion art filler number) it seems a shame to include them on a mere nine track LP.

Closer 'Four Steps From Home' is the nearest thing to a dancefloor number…if said club was Lynchian, open at 4am and filled with some leftfield percussion. Lyric "show me the way back home" repeats like a hypnotic cry for help – a shared prayer for those lost ravers. May God find them an Uber. Overall 'Enternalism' is a moody record, a lush and brooding thing constructed by Morpheus himself. The only real crime is there isn't more of it.

7/10

Words: Sam Walker-Smart

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