STACK #203 Sep 2021

MUSIC FEATURE

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S ierra Ferrell is a unique artist: the songs, the voice and the musicianship are like no one else. This is her debut album for Rounder Records, and it highlights all the music she loves, from gypsy to bluegrass, country, jazz, calypso and more; it‘s all here, partnered with her old-style vocals (and she truly can sing anything). The eclectic record is produced by Gary Paczosa (Dolly Parton, John Prine), who gathered a who‘s who

SIERRA FERRELL COMES ‘ROUND THE MOUNTAIN

of Nashville musicians to play: Tim O‘Brien, Jerry Douglas, Billy Strings, Chris Scruggs, and the list goes on. This is Ferrell‘s time to shine and y‘all should take notice. Denise Hylands

Long Time

Coming by Sierra Ferrell is out now on Rounder

Records/ Concord.

“W ho looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens,“ Carl Jung wrote. Little Simz takes both views. The North London artist is recognised as one of the most original and gifted young voices in hip hop. A creative, curious, and empathetic writer, Simz finds clarity in confusion. Last year‘s Drop 6 EP landed in the midst of lockdown with lines on confinement and connection. GREY AREA from 2019 was a vivid coming-of-age record, describing the doubts and discoveries of youth. “ Introvert is essentially me finding power within my introversion,“ Simz has said in conversation with i-D . “Turning inwards and finding peace within myself amongst all the chaos that‘s happening in the world; just trying to centre myself, ground myself, and ask myself real and honest questions in order to grow.“ At the heart of the album is I Love You , in which Simz confronts complicated relationships with family, and their complex blend of emotional extremes. Woman , LOOK WITHIN WITH LITTLE SIMZ

AMYL & THE SNIFFERS DELIVER MORE THAN A WHIFF

“A ngels. Heavenly. Guided. F-CK!“ – so concludes Comfort To Me ‘s opening salvo, Guided By Angels . As well as the mandatory Amyl And The Sniffers c-bombs – which are sprinkled liberally throughout this, the Melbourne group‘s second full-length – magnetic bandleader Amy Taylor also serves plenty of real talk: “First port of call should be changing the date and changing the flag“ ( Capital ); “Out comes the night, out comes my knifey/ This is how we get home nicely“ ( Knifey ); “I am still a smart girl if I‘m dressing slutty“ ( Laughing ). And the band‘s special brand of self-aware

humour is in abundance here, too: Don‘t Need A C**nt (Like You To Love Me) and the rollicking Security (especially those ‘inebriated‘ closing backing vocals: “Will you let me in your pub?… I swear I‘m not that druuuuunk…“). This outstanding collection of punk vignettes deals sinister bass, walloping drums and insistent, chunky riffs – all supersized with Taylor‘s sing-songy, percussive vocals. Stand-out anthem Don‘t Fence Me In features riffs that climb gradually, evoking stealthily scaling a chickenwire fence to sneak into the drive-in at nightfall. Careening latest single Hertz – with its showy, Angus Young-esque guitar parts – celebrates

spontaneous road trips. Comfort To Me ‘s cover art resembles what Taylor‘s face would look like, all up in your grill, if you were tripping balls: cartoony and freakish. Oozing authenticity, Taylor is the real deal. Like Chrissy Amphlett and Bon Scott before her, she‘s a high- voltage conductor of “energy currency“. “Worked at the IGA/ Now I‘m famous c-nt“ – these lyrics are delivered with a wink, but truer words have

featuring Cleo Sol, is “a soulful love letter to women around the world“, and Rollin Stone is a charged electronic beat showcasing Simz‘ commanding flow. The entire album is a generous display of talent and insight, supported by production from long-time friend and collaborator Inflo. SimonWinkler

never been spat. Bryget Chrisfield

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz is out Sept 3 via Age 101.

Comfort To Me by Amyl & the Sniffers is out Sep 10 via B2B Records.

SEPTEMBER 2021

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