Deary - Aurelia

Ob „Aurelia“ mit seinen 6 Songs in rund 26 Minuten nun eine EP oder eine Mini-LP darstellt, ist eigentlich egal, denn das wichtigste Kriterium für eine Vorladung bei Platten vor Gericht erfüllen Deary: „Aurelia“ ist auf (CD und) Vinyl erhältlich, und dies sogar in drei Versionen (Gold Transparent Vinyl, Moth Wing Effect Vinyl, Aqua Transparent Vinyl). 

Das Londoner Duo besteht aus Ben Easton (Gitarre, Produktion) und Rebecca ‘Dottie’ Cockram (Gesang), die ihren Dreampop mit einer Prise Shoegaze und Trip Hop würzen. Es sind beinahe mehr Aufnahmeorte (4AD Studios, London; Bella Union Studios, Brighton; The Nave, Leeds; mehrere Londoner Schlafzimmer) gelistet als Songs. Diese verdienen sich aber den „Slowdive Soundalike Award 2024“, was möglicherweise auch am Mitwirken von Simon Scott liegt.

 

Thematisch dreht sich „Aurelia“ um Metamorphose und Wandel, was auch den Titel, denn Aurelia (lat.) bedeutet Puppe und Aurelianer ist ein seltener alter Begriff für einen Lepidopterologen - jemand, der Motten studiert und sammelt. Also hören wir uns einmal „The Moth“ an:

  

Breakbeats are also still in play, as on "The Moth," which opens with an undulating, siren-like (or insect-like) wail before establishing its bass-underpinned groove and eventual deluge of harmonic shimmer. Dottie's spectral vocals seem to ricochet off of surrounding atmosphere to push through to our ears, although only some syllables are fully decipherable, including the verse-ending line "You could be my universe." Everything but a residual hum drops out for a midpoint break that highlights lyrics like "Cleverness in your eyes/Guided by angels in disguise" before the strata and breakbeat drop back in. Simon Scott of Slowdive takes over on live drums for the relatively sludgier "Selene," whose aching melody yearns "to get back to you," as if crawling its way out of a mud flat. Catchier entry "The Drift" features a ringing, melodic guitar hook à la the Cure on its way to chasing an object of affection -- perhaps the Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy"-like distant yowl -- with the repeated phrase "Drift away from me." After the uber-ethereal, almost drumless "Where You Are," Aurelia reintroduces a breakbeat for parting song "Dream of Me" ("Do you still dream of me?"), a six-minute seduction that stretches and loosens its atmosphere like an astral taffy maker. Throughout, the band never break mood or character while exploring aural and emotional infinity for another impressive release. 

(All Music)