We Speak Music

Vision Video Delivers Masterful Tune ‘Balaclava Kiss’

Published

9 months ago

July 24, 2024

The highly anticipated recent single from modern goth rock band Vision Video, “Balaclava Kiss,” is set to captivate listeners with its brooding atmosphere and soaring melodies. This single offers a tantalizing taste of what’s to come in their upcoming album, set to dominate playlists later this year.

“Balaclava Kiss” intricately weaves together poignantly poetic lyrics and lavishly layered instrumentals, showcasing the band’s signature blend of ethereal synths, driving basslines, and evocative guitar riffs. Frontman Dusty Gannon’s mesmerizing vocals, dripping with raw emotion, soar over the dynamic soundscape below. Co-vocalist and keyboardist Emily Fredock perfectly complements Dusty’s commanding melodic lines with her striking vocal tone and powerful performance prowess.

Vision Video remains unwavering in their exploration of the human psyche in their lyrics, and “Balaclava Kiss” is no different, delving deep into the complexity of the human condition. Speaking on the creative process of the single, frontman Dusty Gannon shares:

“I take a lot of inspiration from my observations of interesting imagery that I see in the world. I saw a picture a while back of someone raising up a balaclava to kiss a person, and it felt like such a beautiful, dualistic image that inspired the spirit of the song. ‘Balaclava Kiss’ is essentially a protest song that we wrote about the rise of fascist, right-wing ideology in the world. Here in America, we’re watching an intense commitment to the denigration of human rights, both through domestic and foreign policy. Seeing the unmasking of things like Project 2025 and Trump’s appointed Supreme Court rolling back decades of legal precedents that protected human rights and freedoms is both alarming and sickening, but conversely, the Democratic party supporting the unabashed attempted genocide of Palestinians is equally disturbing. This song is all about getting out into the streets and protesting, but in a non-violent, non-compliant sort of way—and with the police and corporate surveillance becoming so pervasive, balaclavas are an excellent way to subvert facial recognition algorithms!”

With such an important sentiment at the heart of this single, “Balaclava Kiss” is poised to become an instant classic in the rock realm. Showcasing their unique brand of modern goth rock, Vision Video cements their place as torchbearer of the genre right now.

We Speak Music

Waz-u drops ambient gem ‘Vermillion’ ft. Lilyg

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Don Reed

London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Waz-u returns with his second album, Preludes: Dusk Psalms, set for release on 16 May 2025 via independent label Biodiversity. The 15-track record further refines the artistic depth of his debut, blending electronic textures and classical compositional techniques in an intricate, immersive listening experience.

Ahead of the album release, Waz-u is dropping an exclusive vocal version of ‘Vermillion: G Major’ from the album, accompanied by its original instrumental version. ‘Vermillion’ with Lilyg will be released on 18 April 2025, evoking intimate indie-folk and pop and follows the release of a vocal version of ‘Lament’ with Tom Norrington. ‘The singles are a way to give a voice to the atmosphere of the record and to lyrically encapsulate some of the themes explored,’ explains Waz-u. ‘Lily and Tom are good friends of mine and have both been listening to early iterations of these preludes – it felt right to involve them directly on this record.’

‘Preludes: Dusk Psalms’ marks a new branch of Waz-u’s emerging sound, guided by the duality of tradition and innovation. Combining his musical roots in early ‘90s dub techno and classical music, the album weaves carefully layered synthesizers and electronics to evoke the ambience of sacred music — from the gentle timbres of a choir or an organ to the quiet, open, and reverberating spaces of a church. Also featured throughout the album is experimental musician G9 LUV, who creates textures and drones by bowing his bass guitar, resulting in cello-like sounds. The release follows Waz-u’s 2024 debut LP, Prayer For Dawn, which merged dub, techno, and electronica in an exploration of the ritualistic traditions associated with both organized religion and dance.

Bringing the album’s themes to life, Waz-u will celebrate the release of Preludes: Dusk Psalms with a special performance at Our Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, London on 14 May 2025. Set against the church’s resonant acoustics, the event will feature live performance arrangements, including a choir, with further details to be announced soon.