Dreaming Of The Future Again. Womb

And more musical goodies coming out of New Zealand. This one may not come as a total surprise, as you could have encountered one of Womb's singles in our singles section recently. The word dreaming in the title of this album is well chosen. Womb specialises in long held synth notes that linger all through its songs. The singer sings with a half-sleepy voice, while the tempo is in the mid range. It's the drummer that keeps the listener alert in most of the songs.

Womb is a trio, Cello (vocals, guitar, strings) and Haz Forrester (synths, guitar) and Georgette Brown (drums). They formed the band in 2015 and released an EP, an album 'Like Splitting the Head from the Body', and started recording its second album in 2020. Two years later the world can finally listen to the band's efforts.

It is undeniable that Womb builds on what came before. Let me start with the sound of The Cure, albeit in a dreamy slow motion incarnation. A more modern band like Warpaint certainly is no stranger to Womb, is my guess. From there Womb starts its own magic. As that it is. The band manages to mesmerise its listeners, slowly but surely by the track.

Right at the beginning the magic starts. 'Sylvan's Song' is a vocal track. The many voices of Cello Forrester wash over the listener, coming from all sides. Highs, lows, middles, her voice has many guises. The result is beauty being caught in the act. A very composite beauty, like a painter laying down many layers of paint before starting the actual artwork, Cello Forrester has laid down layer after layer of her voice, making up the song called 'Sylvan's Song'.

When the band enters, it is in a slow lingering song. 'Like In A Dream' makes me think of Porridge Radio in the way the singing is worked out but relieved of all the anger and angst. The music folds itself around the vocal melody like a warm bath does a body. Warming it down to the marrow. Parts of the music seem hidden behind a wall but obviously present, in the way it warbles around in between the more solid parts of the guitar and drums.

In 'Oceans' the guitar warbles itself, heavily chorused or flanged. Again it makes me feel as if I'm slowly rocked by warm, lapping water. Making me feel drowsy, while fully conscious of the music. Does that guitar play more than two notes? It only gives the impression it doesn't. Less is more here.

Dreaming Of The Future Again contains nine songs. The one may be slightly less dreamy than the next. It is of no consequence. When the music grips you, it will make you submerge into its mood. Make you notice the fine details and the small changes taking place. Either you go all the way or nothing happens. With an album like Dreaming Of The Future Again there's no middle ground. When you truly listen, all the beauty unfolds itself. Listen to it in the background and you'll wonder at which point in time, when did the album end? The choice is yours. My advice? Put it on when you have the time to listen. You'll find Dreaming Of The Future Again gets better by the song.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Dreaming Of The Future Again here:

https://w--o--m--b.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-of-the-future-again-2