The Turning Wheel

Description

Red velvet curtains part to reveal a cosmic wheel of fortune, floating in the star-studded black theater of infinite space. In a whirlwind of vocal timbres, personalities, and stories, The Turning Wheel revolves around themes of human unity, the future, divine love, and the enigmatic ups and downs of this carnival called life. Venturing to push the boundaries of her predominantly synth-driven work, Spellling took on the ambitious task of orchestrating and self-producing an album featuring 31 musicians. The Turning Wheel incorporates a vast array of rich acoustic sounds that propel Spellling into vibrant new dimensions. This double album is divided into two halves - Above and Below. The lush shimmer of the string quartet combines with haunting banjo melodies and wandering bassoons, as the album transitions from the jubilant, warm, and dreamy ambiance of the Above tracks to a more eerie and gothic tone for the Below tracks. This progression is anchored in Spellling's familiar captivating vocal style, showcasing the theatrical and folkloric heart of her musical writing. The release of The Turning Wheel was delayed by over a year from its anticipated 2019 release date, but the forced hiatus ultimately proved to be a blessing in disguise. Navigating the chaos of recording and producing the remaining instrumentalists—either remotely or through studio sessions with strict social distancing—was extremely challenging, but the delays ultimately allowed Spellling to devote more attention to her lyrics. The Turning Wheel demonstrates a distinct evolution in lyrical style, from the more incantatory and abbreviated approach of her previous work to a more expansive narrative output. The Turning Wheel is a manifestation of this considerable effort, time, and collaborative energy, and will surely become a classic for its elegance. And while the artist's eclectic influences, from soul to psychedelic to pop and noise, remain present, something entirely new has also emerged from the cosmic soup of this massive undertaking: a grandiose and genre-fluid adventure that allows the artist's authenticity to shine.