The Turning Wheel (Sacred Bones Anniversary Repress)

The double LP is split into two halves – 'Above' and 'Below'. Lush string quartet shimmer combines with haunting banjo and wandering bassoon leads, as the album progresses from the more jubilant, warm, and dreamy mood of the 'Above' tracks to the more chilling and gothic tone of the 'Below' tracks. This progression is anchored by SPELLLING’s familiar bewitching vocal style that emphasises the theatrical and folkloric heart of her songwriting. The release of The Turning Wheel was delayed by over a year from its intended release date in 2019, but the forced pause ended up serving as a blessing in disguise. Navigating the chaos of recording and producing the remaining instrumentalists – either remotely or through rigid socially distanced studio sessions – was immensely difficult, however the delays ultimately provided the opportunity for SPELLLING to dedicate more attention to her lyrics.

The Turning Wheel demonstrates a distinct evolution of lyrical style, from the more incantatory and abbreviated approach of her previous work to a more expansive, narrative production. The Turning Wheel is a manifestation of this considerable effort, time, and collaborative energy and will surely become a classic for its elegance. And while the artist’s eclectic influences, from soul to psych to pop to noise, remain present, something entirely new has also been born in the cosmic soup of this massive undertaking: a grand and genreless adventure. One that allows the artist’s authenticity to shine and also marks her as a conduit for something with a magic of its own.

Tracklist

1. Little Deer
2. Always
3. Turning Wheel
4. The Future
5. Awaken
6. Emperor With An Egg
7. Boys At School
8. Legacy
9. Queen Of Wands
10. Magic Act
11. Revolution
12. Sweet Talk