At the beginning of the year, Boston post-hardcore band the Saddest Landscape announced their return with a new album Alone With Heaven, their first in over a decade. We’ve already heard a few from the project, which is out next month, including “From Home They Run,” “Hexes,” and “Forever, Undone.” Today they’ve shared another preview of the project in form of a seven-minute single “The Invisible Hurt” featuring Julien Baker.
“The Invisible Hurt” was the last song to come together for the album. Frontman Andy Maddox shared that, even though the song had existed in his mind for a while, it was hard to articulate to the rest of the band. He continued:
What was clear from the start though was that I wanted it to be more of a duet (not like Dolly and Kenny, despite what Daniel may tell you), or at least a call and response, with the female voice being sort of the mantra I heard in my head as I lived out the anxiety that I was experiencing in the verses. What was also clear was that the voice I heard was Julien Baker, so much so that Daniel affectionately titled the song “JulienHopeful.” We hold her in the highest esteem as an artist. Her records get inside and leave marks in the best way possible, we are in forever awe of her talent.
After nervously approaching her we were beyond elated when she enthusiastically agreed to take part. After a few phone calls it was clear she puts so much of herself into what she does, and this would be no exception. She is incredibly astute and had some great ideas that lifted the song to new heights we never saw coming. Daniel and I are not ashamed to admit we teared up the first time we heard her part, it did everything we had hoped for and more. Also this song should act as an important reminder, you are not alone.
Turns out Baker has been a longtime fan of the group. She added:
When I was growing up in Memphis, the bands I watched at house shows were referencing TSL albums. I remember listening to ‘You Will Not Survive’ and hearing a familiar beautiful voice singing among the screaming, so I looked in the liner notes and saw it was Laura Stevenson (who I loved) doing guest vocals . I was playing shows with a bunch of dudes in heavy bands, I really connected to the music but I hadn’t yet seen a lot of examples of someone with my voice integrated into that style.
I was so elated. To see this aggressive band collaborating with someone with such a different sound, it set a precedent for me. When the band reached out I was so excited to be on the song, it felt very cyclical. I also felt very encouraged by them. I’ve definitely felt that there are certain qualities of performance that people expect from me as a musician, which is fine – one of those though is a certain emotionality or formal prettiness or something. Andy and I talked before recording about how to approach the song and when I offered wanting to explore a deliberately uglier more aggressive vocal performance they were excited and really affirming.
Listen to “The Invisible Hurt” below.
Alone With Heaven is out 4/24 via Iodine. Pre-order it here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source stereogum.com ’
