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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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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2016-04-23 17:11:44.
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