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Experimental: Velmuh - Lures (2023)


68 / 100
A niche but rewarding listen if you’re into experimental vocals and atmospheric textures.

Velmuh, born in Richmond, Virginia, began their career with a live session released in 2019 and a rehearsal in 2022. The EP Lures followed in March 2023 and was later reissued under No Rent Records in January 2024. I’ve been aware of this release for some time, but only now have I tried to explore it in a more extended review.

Velmuh crafts experimental music that weaves in vocals from its sole member, Amber Bouchard, in a singer-songwriter fashion, alongside country-style guitar plucking and field recordings thus making the blend more captivating than the average experimental outing.

Amber’s voice comes layered, sung, and atmospherically echoed in a scattered manner, especially on “Lingering.” It morphs into blurred whispers in “feeding her a strawberry with the leaves still on” and “{-intermission-}”, the latter functioning as a kind of interlude. “Things Away” takes the form of a live recording with distant vocals and added field recordings, while “Rain Creek” stands out as the most structured and beautiful track. Built on water streams, birdsong, and spoken word, it quickly became a personal favorite, though the repetitive chipmunk-like choir in the background feels somewhat odd. In contrast, “Format Wound” which is on my playlist, now feels a bit threatened with removal due to its heavy bitcrusher effect, despite the guitar picking and vocals still holding appeal.

This release offers a deeper look into Velmuh’s style, though it’s certainly not for everyone. The experimental approach may be polarizing, but Amber’s vocal work is worth exploring. Recommended for listeners into Aphex Twin or Boris.

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