Creative dynamic blending lifelong influences and the crucial contrast of delicacy and intense depth. Scribe Shift has crafted a cinematic, all-consuming original project, uniting modern production tools with limitless theatrical power and distortion. We’re somewhere between the likes of metal and dream-pop, and this opposites attack aura resounds throughout the opening track Abandonment.
An elusive but driven producer and artist, Scribe Shift has utilised cutting edge AI creation tools to channel personal poetry and passion, and to ultimately overcome the barriers imposed by a significant visual disability. The result is the contemplative wonder and sonic immensity of Vessels of Anguish. A female voice guides, through whispers and roars alike, and the multi-layered, soaring soundscapes that support her feel perfectly in tune with this creative anguish and uncertainty.
An Erratic Cage is superb, colourful and chaotic, almost Celtic in some ways, synth-wave in others, then metal again, and the voice – this character – is unmistakable now.
Thirteen tracks in full make up Vessels Of Anguish, a project bridging the gaps between folk wonder and hard-rock euphoria, with stories and scenes, ambiances and drops, all playing a part in the overarching concept and self-reflection at hand.
Defective Choices is intriguing, mysterious, eerie then intense, and lyrically unignorable. A personal favourite for its minimal set-up and powerful juxtaposition, and the stark imagery of the flesh, of error, of humanity.
Other highlights include the neo-classical softness and countering scream of Bone Wreath, the mellow sway and gritty confrontation of Downcast Blank, and the striking beauty and relatable ache and honesty of a rather sensational My Friend Depression.
There’s also something fascinating and boldly melodic about Feint Laughter, but in reality, there’s a rewarding style and substance to all of these songs, and their connections throughout the album are undeniable.
When we think of AI music creation, we can’t just focus on the unreal elements, we have to also think of the opportunities it presents – especially to those who perhaps couldn’t access the true therapeutic escapism of making music beforehand.
In this case, the passion and precision of Vessels Of Anguish is clearly something valuable and genuine from Scribe Shift, and the music resounds and connects as such. It’s a mighty project, with plenty of feeling at its core, and the style holds closely to a clear artistic identity.
Find Scribe Shift on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, TikTok.
