CULK, fronted by singer-songwriter Sophie Löw (aka Sophia Blenda), are back. On their new, fourth album, CULK delve into a state of limbo between euphoria and feeling overwhelmed. 'smogstar' captures that pulsating sensation of being in between.
Everything is so exciting. It's all too much. It's all happening at once. It's about the endless possibilities of supposedly being able to constantly reinvent oneself. Even if you perhaps still don't quite know exactly who you are. "I wanted the lyrics to be more light-footed and to radiate this special vibe: between feeling free and being lost," a mood that is also reflected in the artwork, which Löw designed herself in the style of a graphic novel: the black-haired protagonist with smudged dark eyeliner on the cover is something of a fictional heroine of the album, making her way through the haze and the shimmering promise of the big city.
CULK play more freely here than ever before. Sophie's distinctive voice remains at the heart of the hypnotic songs, but this time they sound more open, stripped-back and less dark. Among the musical references this time are the more uncompromising sound aesthetics of 80s and 90s noise-rock bands such as Swirlies, Sonic Youth and Unwound, as well as more contemporary bands like Julie or Blue Smiley. CULK's pop vision has never been articulated so consistently. 'smogstar' is a wonderfully nervous, shimmering spotlight on our present.
1. KAPUTTE SPEAKER
2. 7. STOCK
3. IM STROM
4. TWENTY, EIGHTEEN
5. WEISS NUR WER ICH NICHT BIN
6. WILLKOMMEN IN DER STADT
7. SIREN
8. DIE WELT IN KREISEN
9. NORDWIND
10. DAS SCHILLERN