I Am My Mother

Description

‘I Am My Mother’ is an album about empathy, acceptance, and the art of recognizing beauty in an endless dance between the ugly and the sublime. It’s about finding your roots, carving out a place in a constantly changing world, and taking action to emancipate yourself. - - - - - Janine Cathrein and her band, a gang of passionate musicians known collectively as Black Sea Dahu, return with a second album. ‘I Am My Mother’ is the successor to several EPs and the acclaimed first album ‘White Creatures’ released in 2018. - - If you have ever been awed and transported to the heart of a raging storm, and for a moment, you forgot who you were, suddenly feeling like the energetic burst of light before your eyes, then you know what listening to these seven songs can awaken in you. Orchestral, tempestuous, and unpredictable, the way this music transcends all genres evokes the softness of a caress and the freedom of Basquiat's brushstrokes. - - In my world, 1+1=2 does not exist! It’s not that simple. Things don’t just add up, and I try to explain that with my music. - Janine - - The material for this LP comes from a multitude of scattered ideas that have blossomed over the past few years, mainly while on tour: quick notes on the computer or short memos recorded on a mobile phone, usually during soundchecks. What sets this record apart from the band’s previous releases is its scope and orchestral reach, akin to a technicolor film score. According to Janine, it’s a clear and continuous vision that guided her throughout the recording of the songs. The final session lasted 23 intense days and took place in a studio located in Biel, Switzerland. Everything was recorded on-site, including the string arrangements! Every string instrument you hear was played by Janine and her brother Simon. The magical ingredient that makes this music so unique is definitely the chemistry within the band. - - You can only play this way if you have been constantly touring together and developed, against all odds, this particular telepathy. The joy and playfulness of the band are audible throughout the album, much of what was recorded happened spontaneously, through synchronicity or what one might call happy accidents.