Last year's Heart-Shaped Scars announced the return of Dot Allison. The One Dove vocalist's pastoral and thoughtful record was one of the best of 2021, and for those who loved it, her upcoming remix EP promises to be something special indeed.
The first taste of the EP was the remix of "Love Died in Our Arms" by the late Lee "Scratch" Perry. The fact that it was the legend's last work of music added a bittersweet quality to Allison's already pensive brand of songcraft. Now, a second teaser from the upcoming EP is here in the remix of "Murder by Heartbreak" from Welsh artist The Anchoress. From recent work with the Manics, to her bracing solo work, and on to this, Catherine Anne Davies is one of the more iconoclastic artists to emerge from Wales lately. Her skills seemed suited to Dot's and this remix sounds as natural and wonderful as you'd imagine such a thing would sound.
As Davies explains:
"It was a thrill to have been invited by Dot to remix 'Murder By Heartbreak' for her EP." Says Davies, "I've been a long time admirer of her work and jumped at the opportunity to transport her stunning song into the wonky world of The Anchoress, bathing the track in my collection of vintage synthesizers. My approach to the remix was very much focused around foregrounding Dot's beautiful glacial vocal and her experimental use of the voice as instrument. Her use of breath and foreboding backing vocals to create suspense and tension in the track made it a joy to sculpt a sonic journey for the listener as the sinister narrative unravels."
The full EP will be out in late May, but for now bathe in the dark currents of this cut and this remix, out today on the major platforms.
More details on Dot Allison via her official website.