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Soap & Skin


Country of origin:

Austria

Type of music generally:

Evocative/eclectic experimental

Status:

Most recent release, "Mawal Jamar" (single, 2015); most recent full-length release, Narrow (2012)

See also:

Soap & Skin's site

Wikiedia's entry for Soap & Skin

Comparisons:

Nico, Stina Nordenstam, Bat for Lashes

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Quirky and moody, it's a little surprising—or is it?—that Soap&Skin is the work of one young woman, Anja Plaschg. It's such an individual vision it's hard to imagine it being the product of a group but sophisticated so that it's hard to imagine it's one woman alone. This is dreamy, haunting music but with an edge. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Narrow

Recordings:


Lovetune For Vacuum

Release info:

2009—Couch Records

Availability:

See Soap & Skin's site

Ecto priority:

Recommended for fans of the defiantly individual

Group members:

Anja Plaschg—vocals, piano, etc.

Guest artists:

Florian Eggner—cello (1, 4)
Manfred Hofer—contrabass (1, 2, 5, 10)
Martina Engel—viola (4, 13)

Produced by:

Anja Plaschg

Comments:

Speaking of hard to believe, apparently this was recorded when Anja Plaschg was still a teenager and she did it almost entirely herself. Hard to imagine a more sophisticated teenager with a stronger sense of her own vision. This has an astonishing assurance. That said, it's an album full of hauntings, hesistancies, pushes. Part melodic and part anti-melody. (Neile)

Narrow

Release info:

2012

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

A demanding, surprising, and rewarding album. I think what I find difficult to describe about it is what makes me love it so much. Dark, haunting, occasionally industrial... always interesting and very original with shades of Bat for Lashes. I find this more accessible and enjoyable than Lovetune For Vacuum. (JoAnn Whetsell)


Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.

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Entry last updated 2016-04-23 20:11:44.
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