"there's 20,000 miles between us..."
I love when artists stretch their artistic muscles by restricting the tools at their disposal. If not for that kind of self imposed restriction then the beautiful illusory "20,000 Dashboard Angels" by My Violence would not exist in the same way, or maybe not at all.
My Violence is the musical moniker of Viennese singer-songwriter, musician Silvia Ryder, formerly half of dreampop duo Sugarplum Fairies, and for her self titled debut album she places a guitar ban on herself and instead composed solely on a 1980s Omnichord. The result on the album and on this track is exquisitely dreamy, ethereal in tone and somehow feeling like it exists in another time.
Liner notes reveal the seeds of the song:
"Inspired by Wim Wenders' movie 'Himmel über Berlin,' the song is written from the perspective of a guardian angel; their frustration with a stubbornly self-destructive human ultimately results in recruiting an army of additional angel helpers. The song features a Rainer Maria Rilke poem narrated by Austrian actor Oskar Werner."
"Inspired by Wim Wenders' movie 'Himmel über Berlin,' the song is written from the perspective of a guardian angel; their frustration with a stubbornly self-destructive human ultimately results in recruiting an army of additional angel helpers. The song features a Rainer Maria Rilke poem narrated by Austrian actor Oskar Werner."
I absolutely am drawn to the soundscape here and Ryder's vocal countenance that has an aloof quality, not as detached as, let's say, a Nico, but feeling very self aware and in tune with the artful positioning of lyrics to melody and melody to all our emotional buttons, pushed or not. The filmic quality of the vintage Omnichord enhanced with arco double bass, psychedelic pedal steel, and a Baldwin Fun Machine blend to create a heavenly sound but with Hell clearly in the distance viewed through dioptic glasses knowing that we are all destined by fate. "20,000 Dashboard Angels" is simply mesmerizing.
"I have always been there for you / with some pixie dust and trust..."
[The album is accompanied by a triology of videos depicting fleeting vignettes of debauchery, pandemonium, and a celestial love affair. “My Violence “was produced and mixed by Gold Star.]
-Robb Donker Curtius
https://www.instagram.com/myviolence_music/
https://myviolence.bandcamp.com/
“My Violence” is the nom de plume of Viennese chanteuse Silvia Ryder, formerly half of dreampop duo Sugarplum Fairies. On her self-titled debut album Ryder explores a cinematic tapestry of distinctive soundscapes via a self-imposed guitar ban by solely composing on a 1980s Omnichord. Dalliances of arco double bass, psychedelic pedal steel, and a Baldwin Fun Machine compliment Ryder’s understated Nico-esque vocals, which alternate between head voice and double tracked/binaural layers. Her obliquely diaristic lyrics subsequently morphed into an accidental “concept” album, centering around - both real and imaginary - divergent protagonists. The album is accompanied by a triology of videos depicting fleeting vignettes of debauchery, pandemonium, and a celestial love affair. “My Violence “was produced and mixed by Gold Star.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/myviolence_music/
https://myviolence.bandcamp.com/
“My Violence” is the nom de plume of Viennese chanteuse Silvia Ryder, formerly half of dreampop duo Sugarplum Fairies. On her self-titled debut album Ryder explores a cinematic tapestry of distinctive soundscapes via a self-imposed guitar ban by solely composing on a 1980s Omnichord. Dalliances of arco double bass, psychedelic pedal steel, and a Baldwin Fun Machine compliment Ryder’s understated Nico-esque vocals, which alternate between head voice and double tracked/binaural layers. Her obliquely diaristic lyrics subsequently morphed into an accidental “concept” album, centering around - both real and imaginary - divergent protagonists. The album is accompanied by a triology of videos depicting fleeting vignettes of debauchery, pandemonium, and a celestial love affair. “My Violence “was produced and mixed by Gold Star.
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