Breaking down Richie Dagger’s debut EP In Loving Memory is like dissecting an alien; risky tools meet foreign territory. Her music is ice cold, yet scalding; jagged yet sharply crafted. The three-track project boasts production by gre, and a feature by JUNKHEAD. Don’t let the cake on the cover fool you – the empirical project is more savory than sweet. Listening through could be interpreted as an ethereal story about the corrosive decision to give into temptation.
“Kiss is Just a Kiss” boldly establishes the angst that prevails throughout the EP. An 80’s-inspired drum patterns rock the beat into momentum. Robotic, ominous vocals bounce along scraping, metallic production. The hypnotic incantation, “baby can’t resist,” is the song’s (and EP’s) theme. Projecting lust and the downfalls of desire, the track suggests flirtation with the forbidden. A kiss from a tempted romance or a brush with substances are flirtatious affairs. The decision to give in is murky, but unfortunately does not end well.
There’s something synchronic about JUNKHEAD and Richie’s voices. They mesh together atonally, two discernable voices with complementary opposition. “Love in Kilograms (feat. JUNKHEAD)” is a bewitching example of their musical strengths. Richie lulls about her powers of captivation: she gets what she wants without paying a price. JUNKHEAD does what he can to provide for the lucrative business, whether it be providing physical or emotional needs. However, the title suggests the strong relationships we can build with substances, and how carried away we can get with their false affection.
The EP closes with “In Loving Memories“, bringing the grunge and the grit we’ve heard from previous Richie Dagger tracks. Hardcore guitar slides crackle over demonic tones. It’s a processional; a distinct bass drum moves us down the aisle to the casket. She chants about lost love and Richie’s haunting voice is almost angelic, perhaps warning those after her of what’s to come. The song is foggy, like listening through a multi-colored haze. It is the confusion that clouds the light at the end of the tunnel.
In Loving Memory is hopefully the first of bigger projects to come. It’s impossible to say what obscurities Richie Dagger could materialize next, but we’re here to hear it regardless. Follow Richie on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with the blossoming otherworldly empress.