Swear by Empty Heaven
There is a scene, a slice of life, a sliver of the Debordian spectacle. This scene is then cut by an obscenity, unmooring strata and exposing the flimsiness of the life we skate across. Sometimes these obscenities are ruptures, pressure build-ups that flare from communities or individuals. Sometimes these obscenities are massive, planned acts of senseless violence, exposing the maw of the Real. And sometimes, these obscenities are things that feel natural to us, until we realize too late that an unwritten rule is being broken.
This set of ten songs, short, propulsive, pissed, rough, heavy, and uncouth, are an example of the third version listed above. They are angry, and it has been revealed to me through social interactions that even justified, useful anger is inappropriate in good company. It's almost like it can't be shared unless it's arranged for sharing. It is a very complex thing.
I have engaged with anger over the last several years, tarrying with the negative until it became miniature. Anger, to me, is an emotion I can visit in a diorama. And still, it cannot be exposed. It has felt like a secret that I do not want to keep secret. It is obscene, and it is very honest.
Reacting to this epiphany, I wrote this music. It is essentially the diorama I described above. It is, without a doubt, unlike anything I've ever done, and I will probably never do anything like this again. Strangely, it is my wife's favorite album I've ever made. I delight in this and am still surprised about her affection for it.
Consider it a sidequest, or an exploration, or an interruption, or the first album of mine you like, or the first you don't like. Above all, view it as an obscenity, a swear word. It is here, it is not nice, and I am very excited it's out on vinyl via Stormchasers LTD. I highly recommend listening to side B; I recorded an exclusive acoustic session strictly for that side of vinyl, and it will never go up on streaming services.
Thank you.
Tracklist
| 1. | The Swear | 1:05 |
| 2. | A Lack | 1:34 |
| 3. | Never Intuitive | 2:21 |
| 4. | Fortunato | 1:09 |
| 5. | Scraped | 1:02 |
| 6. | Want to Want | 1:22 |
| 7. | The Center of My Universe | 3:12 |
| 8. | Cop Car | 1:35 |
| 9. | Walking Talking Cross | 2:24 |
| 10. | The Memory | 2:40 |
Videos
Credits
All songs written and performed by Empty Heaven
Electric violin on "Want to Want" by Denise Ramirez
Produced by Ryan Teter at Orange Tape Music
Mastered for digital and vinyl by Seth Engel
Album photography by Vanessa Valadez
Layout by Andy Hendricks
Lettering by Natalie Andrews
Records pressed by Smashed Plastic
Distributed by Stormchasers LTD.
