This weekly column will take a look at the best music from each week and put it under the microscope.
Torres is one of alternative music’s pre-eminent singer/song-writers and her latest album, Sprinter (released this week in the US and on 18th May in the UK), is already a highlight. Mackenzie Scott (Torres’ day-to-day alias) has an unparalleled command of dynamics, first displayed on 2013’s “Honey” and this is not something that has diminished in the interim; in fact, the opposite has happened. Her writing stock is clearly on the rise and “Sprinter” displays exactly what we can expect from the full album in a week or so’s time.
Torres’ command of her vocal chords is something found once in a blue moon and her vocal acuity is shown in a developed fashion as Scott manages to crescendo from pianissimo to fortissimo with no let-up, issues or wobbles. Her lyrics, too manage to keep up with her vocal prowess as the subject of religion is tackled head-on with cryptic, prosaic content. This is displayed well through one line in particular; “There’s freedom to and freedom from / And freedom to run from everyone” as it relates to Scott turning her back on religion and the video’s occult-ish imagery seem to back this up. What is clear from the vocals/lyrics is that Torres’ confidence has amplified to new proportions and the ways her vocals are used create an almost hypnotic sound-scape as they are coupled up with some impressive guitar work.
The guitar work in question is reminiscent of many artists from Nirvana to My Bloody Valentine through the use of fuzz and (at times) the wall-of-sound process. The simplistic chord progression, backed by bipolar synths takes a back-burner at times however, as a chilled wailing from near-snapped guitar strings takes control towards the climax of the piece.
“Sprinter” is formed of a dichotomous softness and sharp edginess that keeps any listener guessing and intrigues even on the ten-thousandth listen through. With an errant eccentricity, the likes of Grimes and St. Vincent hold, anything could be possible for Torres!
