London-based art rock band Modern Woman release new single “Dashboard Mary”
“Dashboard Mary” is a magical feat of raw, untameable vocals that cry out in emotion as Modern Woman pulls us headfirst into their alt-rock sound. The track thrives on contrast: yearning, wind-soft lulls suddenly give way to head-bang punches of rock, tossing the listener through waves that shift between peaceful and stormy.
The track opens on sustained chords, tinged with a shimmer of piano brightness that edges toward hope in a melancholic current. There’s an atmosphere of tension in the introduction, it lingers in your ears giving you a sense that there’s a build-up that’s sure to break-through. Slowly, layers begin to surface. Vocals, violin and synths glimmer through heavily distorted guitars, like light sparkling atop the murky water’s surface, or memories piercing through the haze of the night before (the lyrical narrative of Dashboard Mary). It creates a cinematic soundscape and it’s in this space that Sophie Harris’s voice truly takes hold.
Her vocal performance is that of a spellbinding siren. Operatic in style, her voice wanes and falls with graceful precision. Largely untouched by effects, you hear every breath, every fracture of feeling. The tidal push and pull of emotion, the exposed and clear voice, there’s something almost folk-like in its cadence, it reminded me of Cornish sea shanty music I overheard in pubs and harbour hubs. Sophie’s voice stands tall and steady as a flag upon a mast, anchoring the song as it moves through waters of experimental rock and art-punk.
What began as Harris’s solo project has grown considerably over the past year into a quartet, now featuring violinist and composer David Denyer, Juan Brint-Gutíerrez on bass and saxophone, and Adam Blackhurst on drums. It’s this collaboration of musicians that truly allows the music to sail, to take us with them on this awesome journey. Folk-leaning melodies brush up against abrasive art-rock textures, colliding like waves upon a cliff.
This is central to Modern Woman’s identity: “A vital theme I’ve always wanted in Modern Woman is the idea of conflicting things, of the tender/harsh, loud/quiet and scrappy/polished. The style of everybody’s playing, drawing from a melting pot of influences, coming together to form something new.”
There’s beautiful moments and interactions across tracks, where instruments reinforce and creatively intertwine with one another. One of my favourites is a motif that recurs as a central thread. It first appears around the one-minute mark on a bright synth, before later resurfacing in unison and canon with the synth and vocals. It’s a small detail, but a really powerful one, one that will continue to pop up in your head for days – just ask my partner who has started humming it around the house too.
It’s details like these that really showcase what this band can do, this evolution into a four-piece that is now able to blend experimental textures with authentic live energy, it’s seamless, memorable and striking.
“Dashboard Mary” marks the first single from their upcoming debut album Johnny’s Dreamworld, out 1st May. The London-based band are currently on tour, supporting Ezra Furman, finishing in London at the start of February, so there’s plenty to look forward to from Modern Woman and ways to support and enjoy the band.
Stream “Dashboard Mary” below:
