It’s been a rather productive year for Hollow Shift. We wrote about the liminal duo back in January, celebrating ‘Reload’ as “navigating gritty dark wave, nostalgic post-punk and hints of goth decadence… building an aural world that’s daring and fearless”. Since then, the Greek outfit has followed through with a few more singles, constantly oscillating between the aforementioned guitar-coded melancholy and cosmic electro pop. It’s a tension of intents and stylistic formulas that works very well in the context of Hollow Shift’s artistic research.
It transforms the project into an ever-evolving endeavour, a living, breathing creative being propelled by Jessica Bell and Alexander Zamparas’ expert musicianship. They are certainly not done yet: ‘Electric Gloom’ and ‘Fire and Smoke’ represent the pair’s new frontier, a double single that explores different sonic perspectives, yet always staying true to Hollow Shift’s otherworldly, bold and haunting outlook. Both tracks enjoy new wave and darkwave influences, with chaotic bass lines and gritty distortions evoking nocturne and anthemic lyrical imagery.
Bell’s vocals are the perfect match for such an unconventional production. Expressive and brooding, they truly help in delivering the complex and peculiar vision behind Hollow Shift’s overall artistry. Delving deeper into the songs, the duo explains: “‘Electric Gloom’ captures the experience of being awake while the city sleeps, while ‘Fire and Smoke’ confronts the disillusionment and fragility of humanity”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Electric Gloom’ and ‘Fire and Smoke’ now: