Released on: 9th November 2018
Sue Hutton is the fulcrum on which Indarra spins upon; who better known for her work with Rhea’s Obsession has reignited old flames with her latest most recent Walk on Fire. A dulcet composition titled similarly to a proposed third opus from the former band, this album is an organic evolution of Huttons’ previous outfit too.
Walk on Fire retains the world music elements familiar to fans of Rhea’s Obsession however the drone aspects and the heavier elements have been replaced with trip-hop and ambient respectively. However for those not acquainted with the former act think Massive Attack does Dead Can Dance. Or as I like to call the portmanteau– Towards the Teardrop. And an accurate description on further listening too.
There is a plethora of artists who flesh out this resurgence of dark world music. Kevin Laliberté, Chris Gartner, Deb Sinha, Ed Hanley, Heiki and Scott M2 to name all who appear in the credits. On a release like this however it’s not really who’s playing but how it’s being played and the many voices on this album express a deep texture that contrasts the dynamics between nature and science; acoustic and synthetic instrumentation.
When referring to this album as dark world music it isn’t because it’s an intended deliberation projected on to the creative space because it’s more of an indictment on the situations that inspired the thoughts and considerations which have been transcribed into music. Ruminations voiced fearlessly in Huttons’ lyrics that describe many of the inequities that people face daily. And presented with some nineties-like ‘tude.
There’s an unidentifiable principle, a mysticism on Walk on Fire that appears like nostalgia but retains a very real presence. Told through fetters of melody that are exorcised with retrograded beats. It’s deep, it’s spiritual and entirely humanitarian.
8/10
