Heartache to Heartache by Lydia Roberts

In the face of an arduous grief process where tragedy continues to compound upon itself, it’s hard to subscribe to the belief that things will get better. As loss pervades, cycles of pain and catharsis layer on one another and the suffering becomes chronic. An album with a distinctly tragic sound, Heartache to Heartache by Lydia Roberts captures this sense of loss with intense accuracy. A persistent wall of fuzz overcrowds ambient washes and often melancholic underlying melodies, these smooth and nostalgic musical ideas shrouded by harsh noise. Despite its intense and constant distortion, Heartache to Heartache sounds extremely close and intimate, each element balanced to evoke this sense of deep emotion. The noise transforms alongside the instrumental elements, allowing each track to carry its own voice with a distinct sense of pacing; some are bright and static while others are subtle and intense. As each passing song closes with abrupt silence so does the project as a whole, echoing the complexities of grief with haunting clarity.