News

Track of the Day: Jenny Hval – Sabbath

• 9th Apr 2015

Alright, you got us, this is a classic case of a devastating crush on a musician leading to preferential treatment – FINE, I hope you’re happy that you’ve rumbled us, but can you really blame us when presented with such an artistic, intellectual and bonkers proposition?

This new track from Jenny Hval is taken from her forthcoming album ‘Apocalypse, girl’, which is due June 8th via Sacred Bones and serves as proof that she’s probably the best thing to come out of Norway since…herring? Any other stereotypes we could throw at this?

‘Sabbath’ is a hypnotic, visceral missive from the singer that touches on concepts of gender, sexuality, self-image and desire – a maelstrom of sweeping noise that tumbles along underneath Hval’s intoxicating vocal.

Set to play a series of UK dates this summer, including a Perfume Genius support slot in London on June 10th, we hope to stare idiotically from afar at Miss Hval at a venue in the near future.

Speaking about the new track, Jenny commented ‘I think I’ve been writing this song since about 1986. Because when I was really young I had a dream that my vagina had braces. For a long time, it (‘Sabbath’) was a monologue with a heavy drum loop and I had no idea what it was or why. It was just a galloping urge to say something. And then the chorus appeared. It’s like a mother; it just wants you to be happy. I really wanted to create something soft & loving. And I think it’s really catchy. Which is also very mothering, a mother catches you.”

“I watched the film Daisies (Czechoslovak New Wave CLASSIC), while we were recording the album, and now when I think of Sabbath I think of the two main characters in that film. Daisies is hyper surreal and an extraordinary mix of politics and desire”

“I open with saying I dream I’m a boy, but the song is very much about girls. Girls playing, dreaming, singing, transforming. Girls speaking to and for everyone”.

Listen to ‘Sabbath’ here:

Jenny Hval Tour Dates:

June
4 – Sun. June 7 – Oslo, NO @ Black Box Teater – Apocalypse, girl expanded concerts
10 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall w/ Perfume Genius
11 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers
12 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope & The Ruin
13 – Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
14 – London, UK @ Cafe Oto