EP Review: Swallowtail by She’s Green
EP artwork for swallowtail by she’s green
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they need to admit to themselves that they like music that sits on the twee side of the spectrum. It might not be all twee all the time, but there’s a time and a place for something on the softer side. Sometimes that’s just a lighter shade of death metal; sometimes it’s dream pop. For those looking for a respite from the madness of modern living, a warm hug in the meadow of the saddened mind, she’s green might be for you. Coming off the back of two well-received EPs, the Minneapolis shoegazers return with a third.
Pressing play on this record feels like entering a dream. The gentle reverberation from the guitars creates an atmosphere akin to walking down a woodland path on a summer’s day, and once Zofia Smith’s vocal hits your ears, you will find yourself transported to somewhere warm. The band has always excelled at crafting this sort of listening experience, and that is no different here. However, compared to previous releases, this can feel quite one-trick. As the record progresses, there is very little in the way of sonic change. Not a bad thing, usually, but when the songs are as delicate as these are, they can find themselves blurring together in such a way as to be semi-indistinguishable from one another. Undeniably well crafted, yet lacking much individual character.
The third track, empty house, is an acoustic number with a dual vocal approach. A very gentle and calming track; in another context it would be perfect, but here it brings the pace down where it really could have been increased. This is followed by another dreamscape, paper thin, and by this point in the EP you may find yourself missing the punch of previous efforts. This release really leans on the softer side of their sound, and it is hard to deny that they are good at it, but some listeners will find it hard to latch on to. If Smith were a lesser vocalist, there would be very little to remember at the halfway mark. She is, however, exceptional, and that is a true saving grace. Like a more coherent Elizabeth Fraser, she dances across each track with astounding ability.
It isn’t until the release’s backend that the songs start to give you more. The distorted guitar and hard-hitting drums from mettle come as a breath of fresh air. Undoubtedly the most sonically exciting song of the collection, it is more reminiscent of songs such as Graze from “Chrysalis” or purple from “wisteria”, and a great representation of what they can do when they want to go harder. If the EP had more bite like this, there would be a lot more to hold on to, and it is hard to consider that this may be a direction they wish to move away from. When put within the context of this EP forming the second half of a full-length release, one wonders where the sound will go. Will they fully embrace the Slowdive influence, or continue to craft their own lane? Time will tell.
Overall, she’s green have managed to craft another cohesive and generally enjoyable body of work. It’s one to listen to in the sun or with your eyes closed, and dream pop or shoegaze fans will be able to get on board with it. The crescendo in keeper is genuinely lovely, and the vocal melodies are beautiful, but it does blend together somewhat. So much so that in places it can be hard to remember which song is which, and just when it starts to get really exciting, it ends. To say this EP is bad would be a massive overstatement, but it is at times underwhelming. If you ever feel like walking through long grass with your socks off, this may be the soundtrack you’re looking for. As peaceful as the butterfly it shares its name with, “swallowtail” gently flutters by.
FFO: Softcult, Slowdive, Glixen, The Cocteau Twins, Beach House