It may be difficult to listen to, and even harder to stomach, but there is great reward in focusing on what happens in this deceptively hushed landscape that Hval has built
On Innocence Is Kinky, Hval flaunts these contradictions of innocence, forcing us into the role of one of her fathers/lovers. With the sound of her voice, she both hands us the knife and brandishes it at us, daring us to keep listening, to listen even closer.
Innocence is Kinky might be a more clear distillation of Hval’s vision, but that’s only because the gaze is fixed so intently from performer to perpetrator.
This mind-expanding record will inspire a more inexpressible connection: you will carve your own niche within its deep and absorbing textures, and you will find new things upon every listen.
Innocence Is Kinky may not be an easy listen, with its hardened emotions, harsh sounds and brilliantly erratic vocal style, but Jenny Hval has taken what was once a floundering live art performance and fashioned it into her most enduring recorded work yet.
To call Innocence is Kinky a sort of coldhearted sexual odyssey, or some equally twisted companion to Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (Bill Harford could really have used a listen), hardly feels a stretch.
Not content to merely test the limitations of musical genre, of sound, of her own voice (and, by virtue, her body), Hval knowingly transgresses those limitations as she explores what’s just beyond her range.
fascinating in lyrical content and surprisingly diverse musically. restrained, but with moments that allowed themselves to be expansive while maintaining the album's quiet nature. hval's voice is bright and beautiful yet at times haunting
particular favs: Mephisto in the Water, I Called, I Got No Strings, Death of the Author, The Seer
Lyrically and musically, it’s very interesting. Melodically, it’s tuneless and incoherent which very much gets in the way of enjoying it.
Favourites: Innocence Is Kinky, Memphisto In the Water, I Called, Amohibious Androgynous
fascinating in lyrical content and surprisingly diverse musically. restrained, but with moments that allowed themselves to be expansive while maintaining the album's quiet nature. hval's voice is bright and beautiful yet at times haunting
particular favs: Mephisto in the Water, I Called, I Got No Strings, Death of the Author, The Seer
With her kinky innocence, Jenny Hval is looking for the nordic, urban blues in the strangest places, a difficult task but she won't give up easily.
1 | Innocence Is Kinky 4:26 | 93 |
2 | Mephisto In the Water 4:03 | 93 |
3 | I Called 3:24 | 89 |
4 | Oslo Oedipus 2:42 | 80 |
5 | Renée Falconetti of Orléans 4:29 | 83 |
6 | Give Me That Sound 2:08 | 84 |
7 | I Got No Strings 5:22 | 85 |
8 | Is There Anything On Me That Doesn´t Speak? 3:41 | 85 |
9 | Amphibious, Androgynous 4:36 | 88 |
10 | Death of the Author 3:35 | 83 |
11 | The Seer 3:26 | 83 |
#9 | / | Cokemachineglow |
#10 | / | Sputnikmusic |
#11 | / | The 405 |
#26 | / | No Ripcord |
#40 | / | Tiny Mix Tapes |
#45 | / | Obscure Sound |
#49 | / | Drowned in Sound |
#70 | / | The Quietus |
#83 | / | Crack Magazine |
#100 | / | musicOMH |