JENNY HVAL / BLOOD BITCH​

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Norwegian artist and writer Jenny Hval has developed her distinct take on intimate sound since the release of her debut album in 2006. For her last two solo albums, 2013's I"nnocence Is Kinky" and 2015’s "pocalypse, girl", Hval’s debut for 

Sacred Bones, she has received thoughtful and widespread international acclaim for her fascinating voice, singular delivery and markedly non-traditional arrangements which incorporate elements of poetry, prose writing, performance art, and film. 

In a world with many musicians singing about the pleasures of sex and relationships, it is fair to say that no one does it quite well as Jenny Hval.
Hval’s conceptual takes on collective and individual gender identities and sociopolitical constructs landed "Apocalypse, girl" on dozens of year end lists and compelled writers everywhere to grapple with the age-old, yet previously unspoken, question: What is Soft Dick Rock? After touring for a year and earning her second Nordic Prize nomination, as any perfectionist would, Hval immediately went back into the studio to continue her work with acumen noise producer

 Lasse Marhaug, with whom she co-produces here on Blood Bitch.

Her new effort is in many respects a complete 180° from her last in subject matter, execution and production. It is her most focused, but the lens is filtered through a gaze which the viewer least expects.

Blood, Vampires, Love, Menstruation, a dark poet and her mysterious revelations

in a desperate need of purification.

 

The atmospherical "Ritual Awakening"  is the prelude of this romantic

and deep fantasy "I clutch my phone with my sweaty palm In my hand
I clutch my heart In the coffin for my heart In my hand, It's so loud
And I get so afraid,...So I start speaking"

“Female Vampire” is a hunting song, a scene in which a vampire looks for fresh blood on the dancefloor. 

"In the Red"  is an outro from “Female Vampire”. Confusing loops of a woman breathing quickly, as if exhausted from running. It could be that this woman is running away from the vampire from the previous song.

 

A love song for a Vampire;"Conceptual Romance"  in the words of Hval :

"Chord changes, melodic phrases and rhythmic pulses can have mystical qualities.

They can tell you things words alone couldn’t: In a flash they explain to your heart that you really are broken, or that you really are dying (sooner or later).

A love song for a vampire stuck in erotic self-oscillation. Or maybe just myself"

“Conceptual Romance” is the second single of the album, the amazing video for this song was directed by the collaborator and frequent touring member of the band, Zia Anger.

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"Untamed Region"  explores an experimental territory with a game of ghostly sounds, and keyboard notes.

"We live with a constant vaudeville of contradictory stories that makes it impossible for any real opposition to emerge, because they can't counter it with a coherent narrative of their own".

If you ever wonder what this album is about "The Great Undressing"  will tell you the truth:

What's this album about, Jenny?
J: It's about vampires
No?
J: Yeah
What?

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“Period Piece” explores ideas of menstruation in female vampires.

The song was first made available as a free download prior to the album release as an Adult Swim single at the The Adult Swim Singles Program.

"The Plague"  takes a dark and confrontational direction.  Hval experiments with voices and unclear screams forming a strange and surreal atmosphere.

"Secret Touch" is one of the most beautiful and magical songs of the album, Hval takes a sense of desire, the freedom but death at the same time. 

"Lorna" is the end of this vampire movie, a finale to process, to try and find how to express the inexpressible of our own feelings.

"What is this desire, This biting Eating into another person, What is this that can't be contained in you"

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In the words of Jenny Hval herself:

 “ BLOOD BITCH is an investigation of blood. Blood that is shed naturally. The purest and most powerful, yet most trivial, and most terrifying blood: Menstruation. The white and red toilet roll chain which ties together the virgins, the whores, the mothers, the witches, the dreamers, and the lovers".

 

Jenny Hval live dates:​

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Aug 12 Øya Festival Oslo, Norway Tickets

Aug 13 Flow Festival Helsinki, Finland

Aug 19 Doune The Rabbit Hole FestivalStirling, United Kingdom Tickets

Aug 20 SummerhallEdinburgh, United Kingdom Tickets

Oct 06 Perspectives 2017 Dublin, Ireland Tickets

Oct 07 Black BoxBelfast, United Kingdom Tickets

Nov 10 Le Guess Who? Utrecht, Netherlands Tickets

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B I Z Z A R R E 

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