HYPE! And apologies, buzzword overload incoming... Mystery Irish supergroup Princ€ss have been the subject of more than a few fervent whispers since the release of their 'out-of-nowhere' debut record a few months back. Selling out on initial release, it's now back with a second pressing and probably time to lift the veil a bit further... Unable to attend the OTO show a few weeks back, reliable (possibly not...just who can you trust these days?) sources inform me of the involvement of, alongside a few others, both Maria Somerville and Olan Monk, personnel that seems entirely feasible given the sounds present here. If you're familiar with Somerville's routinely excellent (and not to mention well researched) Early Bird NTS show, you'll recognise the fingerprints of her interests throughout. Which is to say, ambien-derived, glassy-synthed dreamzone pop that makes nods to the increasingly intersecting sonic spaces of both shoegaze and the West Mineral/3XL universe. Indeed, if Somerville were to have made a second record and had Ulla Strauss work the desk, you can't imagine it sounding too different to this. I guess that's a moot point, though, since she's got there by other means closer to home, and impressively so (I'd duly credit the involvement of others if i knew who they were). Ireland's having a bit of an indie-mainstream moment right now (Fontaines, Lankum etc), so it's great to hear its underground in just as rude health, combining resources, sharing ideas and forging its own paths. More please.
