Ether Island - Season Of Risk (7" vinyl)

I’ve been beggin’ and pleadin’ and wishin’ and hopin’ for a record for a record to call my own and just like last week it turns up at the very last minute. Here is a duo from New Mexico whose sound is as foggy and  murky as a wet November morning on the A646 to Mytholmroyd.
On the A side you get two songs: The first synth-led with powerhouse vocals like a gender-swapped Jack White howling along to Suicide, the second an eerie bluesy exploration, through the murk, kind of one part a distorted Joplin, one part deranged Cat Power with shards of distorted reverbed guitar. Music for those who think Bruce Springsteen’s ‘State Trooper’ just ain’t paranoid enough.

But it’s the B side ‘Black Wind Way’ which is my favourite. It could be Beach House at 33rpm or a young Low playing the hits of Galaxie 500. The song is organ-led, churning slowly with breathy female vocals whispering in and out of the mix to tremendous effect. A 7” of two halves - one side intensely unsettling, one side soothing. Limited to 300.