Album Review: Giantess

Giantess – Big Woman
(Independent)

One of the silver linings of the slower pace of life brought about by the recent lockdown, and a gradual transition to a new kind of normalcy has been a bit of extra time to immerse oneself in new music. And the debut album from Wellington’s Giantess entitled ‘Big Woman’ (released last month in the midst of lockdown), is an album that demands a close listen, and multiple times at that to fully ruminate in its depths and sonic and lyrical beauty.

Giantess is the new project from Kiki Van Newtown and Jason Erskine, previously of the now disbanded Hex. The album was written by Van Newtown, with Erskine helming production of the album alongside Lauren Ellis providing percussion. The band’s moniker, and the album’s name in itself, are intertwined; representative of a much broader picture with important stories to tell. The tracks of this album come together to form a narrative inspired by women going through difficult experiences and situations and emerging from them not only strong, but also thriving. As such, lyrically Big Woman is brutally honest, and yet it is filled with hope.

Each of the album’s nine tracks are incredibly intimate. Opening track ‘The News’ sets the scene from which the album’s story evolves, beginning “I remember it was cold that night, the frost was thick and I knew things would not be alright, I remember knowing that you were gone”, evoking a sense of loss, heartbreak and trauma. Van Newtown’s ethereal voice along with Erskine’s otherworldly yet energetic guitars, create a mesmerising soundscape that is easy to lose oneself in, in the best possible way. It is important to point out, however, that not every track is solemn, with tracks ‘Good Looking Girls’, Self Taught Mage’ and ‘The Flood’ serving up a good dose of rock’n’roll that pack a proverbial punch. The melancholic ‘Hope’ is another of the album’s highlights. In fact, this reviewer will quite happily go on record as saying that each and every track shines in its own right. Listen closely, listen loud, and enjoy the beautiful auditory journey that is ‘Big Woman’. I hope you find it as cathartic and uplifting as I do.

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