Music / gothic
Review: Chelsea Wolfe, SWX
On the 25th of July, SWX offered a show much heavier than usual which was headlined by Ministry and supported by Chelsea Wolfe. The venue is used to noisy shows as they recently hosted the likes of Sun O))) last year. For this review we’ve decided to focus on Chelsea Wolfe, a compelling artist who’s not that big in the UK just yet.
It’s always very risky to try and label Chelsea Wolfe’s music, many have tried and many have failed: this shows just how much her music is varied and rich. However, her gigs always showcase a well curated setlist, as well as very good song arrangements, making it consistent and easy to dive in.
Her gothic and dark presence immediately catches the eye as she enters the stage and it’ll be very hard to even try and stop staring at her. Queen of her world, leading us with her voice, Chelsea Wolfe invites us to dive in our own emotions and makes her particular stories resonate universally in all of us.
is needed now More than ever
Her last album, Hiss Spun (out last September on Sargent House) revolves mainly around the dichotomy between Hiss, the white noise, the vital force of nature and Spun, the cycle, the chaos, the withdrawal, between trauma and resilience. In the same way, the show was a very cathartic experience, exploring that same dichotomy, always giving and taking back, always leaving us hanging.
Watching Chelsea Wolfe play is watching a strong independent woman, reigning on her audience, who’s not afraid to face her ghosts, “You stay the fuck away from me” she calls during Scrape. She’s not afraid of expressing her desires and sexuality, as she also shows in the songs Spun and 16 Psyche. The latter is named from the asteroid, uncatchable light and the Greek myth of Psyche, during which a girl so beautiful she couldn’t find a husband, tells the story of a woman who is enjoying more the company of multiple partners than to have to settle for one. A theme unfortunately still quite rare among female musicians.
This gig finished in a apotheosis with the song Scrape, probably her most powerful one where she explores a story of abuse and purges it by getting it all out in screams and noise. Overall Chelsea Wolfe delivered an amazing performance, vocal, emotional and musical. Her show was like an inexorable stream, sometimes peaceful, sometimes chaotic but impossible to get out of. Relentless.
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