The Blisters release from Josiah Wise a.k.a serpentwithfeet bubbled out from Tri-Angle Records on Bandcamp late last year. In May this year, the release was invigorated by some special vinyl pressings (including a limited run coloured vinyl and poster which can be purchased here). Blisters injects all the dramatic license that classical instrumentation can wield; "Four Ethers" begins with anticipatory rumbles of kettle drums, bold repetitive horns low in their register, which then start to harmonize, encourage, and galvanise amongst themselves. It builds, and builds, whilst the music starts to intermingle with modern electronic, R&B, and gospel influences. Carefully climaxing into deliberately placed silences, the listener is kept on their toes by sections of self-assured, flowing strings, in ambitious intensity from strength together, acting in octave unisons. The production from Josiah's magnificent compositions on Blisters was brought together by Tri-Angle's The Haxan Cloak (Björk, FKA Twigs). With Tri-Angle yet again marking themselves responsible for some of the most individual, and fearless independent artists around at the moment.
Serpentwithfeet's music is layered upon layers in identities. The harp on "Blisters" and fluttering strings contributing to the powerful sensuality and strikingly honest intimacy, akin to listening to a hair-tingling modern-day shamanic opera. The EP is a rare and wonderful individual performance that would not be out of place on the BBC Proms. Josiah's influences on Blisters appear to range from broaching toxic masculinity, by embracing gender fluidity and the softness of being a man, to considering a philosophy of what it means to be alive in owning a body - the emotions resulting from life and warmth. Serpentwithfeet is embarking out with Perfume Genius' as part of his sold-out North American tour dates in July.
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