A Plague Of Gimps

Description

In 2021, Emyr Williams (rest in power, hero) asked Edwin to create an album under his own name for his label Ankst, which resulted in the incredible God On All Fours (2023). It may be too simple to say that making music under his own name has allowed Edwin to be more honest, direct, and personal, but it certainly feels that way to anyone listening. A Plague Of Gimps is the follow-up. The "gimps" in the title seem to refer to the mental intrusions that bind us all. We revisit, replay, and reflect endlessly, time slipping away as our singular attempt at happiness and fulfillment spirals into a whirlwind of repetitive thoughts. These recurring/intrusive themes still shape the songs, but now it feels like they are being addressed differently. Edwin describes A Plague Of Gimps as a "hangover" from the previous album – the themes of God On All Fours persist but are no longer obsessions: "I can say I'm moving forward, and I'm proud/happy about it." You can hear it too. The lyrics seem more refined – the stories may be longer and denser, but the narration is sharper. The absurd imagery that characterizes Edwin's work has always served to disarm and disturb, but today it places the listener in a state where the weight of the story can hit the hardest. The instrumentation is stripped back to give these lyrics the space they need, and the sound choices illuminate the songs in a perfect and magical way. A word from Wrong Speed: this record destroys us. We've been living with it for a while now, and it has etched itself into us. There is heavy music with combat jackets, big amps, bold imagery, and all the rest. But here, it's different. It's overwhelming. The space left for the voice in the music is like leaving a door ajar to let the monster in. A Plague Of Gimps is a beautiful and personal album. A moment in a life captured and bottled in a perfect and unique way. To put it simply: no one does it like this.