Album Review

Gazelle Twin – Changelings

• 1st Nov 2010

Ah, what a lovely song this is. With a slow, spare beat and low, dark electronic synth overlaid by almost classical vocals, Gazelle Twin seems to be heading down a similar path to Fever Ray and Zola Jesus. Only she’s treading more softly.

Brighton’s Elizabeth Walling is the composing, performing, filmmaking woman behind Gazelle Twin, and it’s her voice that gives this tune its mellow otherworldlyness. Sweet and high but strong and resonant, it has a mature, vintage quality that imbues the music with longing and nostalgia.

Walling cites 15th century composer Carlo Gesualdo among her many and varied influences and in “Changelings” has layered choral harmonies with the gothic drone to create a full, romantic sound. While slightly reminiscent of Enya, this antique and very human quality sits nicely with the electronica and helps to distinguish Gazelle Twin from her otherwise rather similar contemporaries.

The result is intelligent, interesting music that’s downright beautiful – and refreshingly, soul-soothingly quiet.