respite ∞ levity for the nameless ghost in crisis by Colin Self

Our perceptions of the dead, especially of those we never knew personally, often risk becoming flat and one-dimensional, but the spirits of respite ∞ levity for the nameless ghost in crisis by Colin Self appear in such stunning full color that we could almost reach out and touch them. This experimental pop record ties its extreme diversity of sounds and styles together with an unforgettable vocal style, an airy, angelic tone that shifts between lyrics in English, Latin, and other ancient languages. Some moments on the record bring us face-to-face with the ghosts in ultra traditional, delicately respectful ways, with church hymns dancing around ambient synths to create a solemn, incense-filled atmosphere. Meanwhile, other moments highlight these ghosts’ humanity, placing us in the rowdy dance clubs that these spirits enjoyed during their physical lives as their pristine voices blend seamlessly with this progressive electronic soundscape. Highlighting the queer struggle and those who paved the way for future liberation, the record honors these figures without sanitizing them, giving them a full-color afterlife to mirror their time on earth.