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HONEYBLOOD Line-up changes, fresh sounds and a new label for Glasgow native
Three albums in, Honeyblood is now fully honed to the bone-sharp solo vision of founder Stina Tweeddale. Latest album In Plain Sight is the child of a new label, Marathon Artists, a new freedom and fresh collaborations. It’s a strange child, born of Tweeddale’s native Glasgow and Los Angeles, where the album was recorded with producer John Congleton (Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, St Vincent). It refl ects the stark realities of the former city alongside the latter’s cinematic vision. Untethered from Honeyblood’s original guitar
and drums set-up, In Plain Sight experiments with different styles, combining dirge with broody synthwork, a looser 90s groove and the irresistible, straight-up noise rock which made the band’s fame in the fi rst place.
For all the darkness, In Plain Sight handles its goth credentials with a baroque playfulness and sonic ornamentation which lets Honeyblood’s stories breathe. Although she promised herself not to ‘make another witchy-themed album’, images of hexes, spells and poisons abound. A self-confessed impulsive writer, Tweeddale
suggests the lyrics are part of her subconscious, a way of fi guring out ‘what was I trying to tell myself. Sometimes years after I’ve written a song, I’m like “oh wait, that’s what I meant”. At the time I’m like, “this has no relation to my personal life”, but then it becomes obvious later on.’ (Maria Sledmere) ■ Beat Generator, Dundee, Sat 1 Jun; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Mon 3 Jun.
1 Jun–31 Aug 2019 THE LIST 101
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