An experimental, dark, mysterious eclectic mix of trip hop, spoken word and electronica in this autobiographical debut LP by acclaimed actor Samantha Morton and producer and XL Recordings owner Richard Russell. Morton had a very difficult childhood, growing up in Nottingham, she became a ward of the state in foster parents and children’s homes for nine years because he father was an abusive alcoholic, and her mother was involved in a violent relationship with her second husband. It’s a ghostly, disturbing, weird and woozy, but also rather beautiful and poetic listen, Morton singing softly and speaking to surreal sounds, from opening Highwood House, but then particularly Hungerhill House, describing childhood scenes, from the warm to the frighteing “flickering light, angels come out at night …. ghostbusters sky, the smell of piss … fuck me while I cry.” Joined by the jittery sax of Alabaster DePlume on Cry Without End, Let’s Walk The Night, closer Loved By God, and also on Broxtowe Girl voice of Ali Campbell, it’s a vivid portrayal of a nightmarish dream but at times also a strangely formative and oddly romantic one, with lines, on Let’s Walk In The Night, such as “Poplar trees, cartwheels, scuffed knees, she walked for miles / The bells chime/Telling her the time / Dreaming, wondering who will say, "Will you be mine?"/ … Stood under the light (Walk in the night) / Lips red and wet and breath paused kiss with all our might.” Another standouts are the quirky trip-hoppy Double Dip Neon, and the beautiful but disturbing tinkly piano spoken word children’s story/nursery rhyme style of lost innocence in The Shadow. A unique, poignant and vividly powerful release. Out on Flesh N Blood / XL Recordings.
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