Abysskiss

2018 studio album by Adrianne Lenker
Abysskiss
Studio album by
Adrianne Lenker
ReleasedOctober 5, 2018 (2018-10-05)
Recorded2018
StudioPanoramic House, West Marin, California
Genre
  • Folk
Length33:42
Label Saddle Creek
Producer
  • Luke Temple
Adrianne Lenker chronology
Hours Were the Birds
(2014) 		Abysskiss
(2018) 		Songs
(2020)
Singles from Abysskiss
  1. "Cradle"
    Released: August 7, 2018
  2. "Symbol"
    Released: September 12, 2018
  3. "From"
    Released: October 2, 2018

Abysskiss (stylized in all lowercase) is the third solo studio album by Adrianne Lenker, released through Saddle Creek Records on October 5, 2018.[1] The album was recorded at Panoramic Studio in West Marin, California with Luke Temple and Gabe Wax, who respectively handled production and engineering duties.[2] The album consists of ten songs conceived while touring with Big Thief. The tracks "Terminal Paradise" and "From" were given a full band arrangement on Big Thief's album, U.F.O.F., released in 2019.[3]

Release

Abysskiss was announced on August 7, 2018.[4] "Cradle" was released as a single the same day.[5] "Symbol" was released as a single on September 12, 2018.[6] "From" was released as the final single, three days before the album's release.[7] Abysskiss was released by Saddle Creek Records on October 5, 2018.[8] The music video for "Symbol", featuring Lenker performing the track on the boardwalk of Coney Island, was released on November 29, 2018.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.7/10[10]
Metacritic83/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Drowned in Sound9/10[13]
Exclaim!7/10[14]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[15]
Loud and Quiet8/10[16]
NME[17]
Pitchfork8.0/10[18]
The Skinny[19]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Abysskiss received an average score of 83 based on 14 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[11] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork gave Abysskiss an 8 out of 10 rating, writing, "The shared secrets of intimacy, the buried secrets of family, the impenetrable secrets of nature—they all swirl like sediment in a wine glass. abysskiss thrums quietly with the unease of these secrets, of mingled trauma and love."[18] Lizzie Manno of Paste gave the album an 8.5 out of 10 rating, writing, "Providing newfound comfort and warm familiarity, abysskiss is a record that will quickly find its way into your heart and slowly caress your soul."[20]

In his four-star review for VultureHound, Jake Doolin noted Lenker's ability to find "new ways of making her instruments sing", while also praising Temple's "stripped back production".[21] Adam Turner-Heffer of Drowned in Sound gave the album a 9 out of 10 rating, writing, "Nothing feels disingenuous about Lenker’s story or approach or music, which anyone who has witnessed Big Thief’s surprisingly upbeat and even humorous stage personas – at odds with their reasonably heavy music – can attest. Lenker is an incredible talent."[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Adrianne Lenker

No.TitleLength
1."Terminal Paradise"3:59
2."From"3:38
3."Womb"2:15
4."Out of Your Mind"3:51
5."Cradle"3:17
6."Symbol"3:49
7."Blue and Red Horses"3:17
8."Abyss Kiss"3:03
9."What Can You Say"2:28
10."10 Miles"4:01
Total length:33:42

Rough Trade Exclusive Demos

No.TitleLength
1."Questions (demo)"3:03
2."Homesick (demo)"3:03
3."Fly (demo)"1:09
Total length:7:15

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from Bandcamp.[22]

  • Adrianne Lenker - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
  • Gabe Wax - synthesizers, engineering, mixing
  • Luke Temple - synthesizers, bass, guitar, production
  • Greg Calbi - mastering
  • Zoë Lenker – cover photography

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Stephen (August 7, 2018). "Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker Releases 'Cradle,' From New Solo Album 'Abysskiss'". NPR. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Adrianne Lenker Leans Into The Abyss". Stereogum. September 24, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Album Of The Week: Big Thief U.F.O.F." Stereogum. April 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Kaye, Ben (August 7, 2018). "Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker announces new solo album, abysskiss, shares "cradle": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Geffen, Sasha (August 7, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker "cradle"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Cush, Andy (September 12, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker – "Symbol"". Spin. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Gray, Julia (October 2, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker – "From"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss". Saddle Creek. October 5, 2018. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Adrianne Lenker – "symbol" Video". Stereogum. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Abysskiss by Adrianne Lenker reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Abysskiss by Adrianne Lenker Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Donelson, Marcy. "Abysskiss – Adrianne Lenker". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Turner-Heffer, Adam (October 16, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker – 'abysskiss'". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Bobkin, Matt (October 4, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Kinsella, Paddy (October 1, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker channels the overwhelming beauty of nature on Abysskiss". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  16. ^ Gatward, Tristan (October 4, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker – 'Abysskiss'". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Mcmillan, George (October 1, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker – 'Abysskiss' review". NME. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Greene, Jayson (October 12, 2018). "Adrianne Lenker: abysskiss". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  19. ^ MacIntyre, Fraser. "Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss". The Skinny. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Adrianne Lenker: abysskiss Review". Paste. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Adrianne Lenker – abysskiss (Album Review)". VultureHound. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "abysskiss by Adrianne Lenker". Bandcamp. October 5, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
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