As it is not the typical Menace Ruine sound, we called this release Ghost Heartbeats in order to avoid any confusion, but it is closely linked to the MR process and comes from the same time and space. It is a glimpse into the long hiatus between Venus Armata in 2014 and our last album Nekyia, released in November 2022. A sort of "behind the scenes" at a time where nature and all of her voices were predominant (and much needed) in our lives. A parallel work from "the other side of the waterfall" as we might say, where there is very little human music, and a profound quest for quiet. Geneviève used to play drums outdoors, looking for grounding and peace, trying to beat the rhythm of nature and make friends with the little creatures around and, humbly, add to their music. In August 2016, she brought her handy recorder and captured a few drum sessions with the birds, bees, insects and critters of all sorts to eventually craft a few little songs with them. In the following years, she set these recordings aside until the very end of the Nekyia process, as she was recording the vocals and experiencing vocal fatigue. That is when she finally came back to the drum pieces and added the melodic parts, very mindful to preserve the trance inducing and ritualistic qualities at work in the original sessions, and on the condition that there would be no human voice and no words other than the narrative titles. Creativity feeding creativity. Instead of falling into despair or procrastination in between her vocal recording sessions, she kept the fire alive by finishing this album in a playful way. And so both albums could be completed.
And so, here is Ghost Heartbeats, a companion EP to Nekyia. Hope you can feel those vibes of lush summer and peace. Solitude and headphones recommended.
credits
released March 30, 2023
Drums recorded in August 2016, in various outdoor locations: woods and wildflower fields next to a creek and a small waterfall in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Quebec. Thanks to all the birds, bees, insects, frogs and unidentified critters for their participation. Little pieces were slowly crafted from those sessions until the completion of Menace Ruine’s album Nekyia, in 2022.
Composed and produced by Geneviève Beaulieu
Mastering and artwork by S. de la Moth and Geneviève Beaulieu
French poet Messyl offers work in the tradition of the Beat Generation over atmospheric experimental rock from Wolf City. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 11, 2023
The music of Reading group Chaos Emeralds feels like it weighs megatons, with its thick rivers of distorted guitar and gluey textures. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 15, 2022