Review:'Shannon, Joy (Feat. T.O.M.B.)' 'Stretched on Your Grave'
- Genre: 'Ambient'
Our Rating:
The last time I encountered Joy Shannon, the Irish harpist and singer was lurking in the gloom of caves; two years on and she’s still sepulchral and melancholy, and this time it’s graves she’s chosen to haunt, with ‘Stretched on Your Grave’ – apparently a traditional Irish tune, and here is very different form from Sinead O’Connor’s altogether beatier, more groove-orientated take on it) showcasing the desolate sound of her collaborative EP ‘Death My Bride’, recorded with T.O.M.B., renowned for harsh industrial ambient noise.
Usually, two tracks makes for a single, but this is very much an EP on account of the longer running of the tracks here, with ‘Stretched on Your Grave’ backed with a cover of Tim Buckley’s ‘Song of the Siren.’
There’s little joy to be found here, at least mood-wise, but T.O.M.B. show considerable restraint and a remarkable respect for Joy’s voice and subtle sound, and instead of desecrating either with aggressive conflict, this collaboration serves to accentuate the atmospheric aspects of her composition and her elegant, emotive melodic vocals.
