‘Rainbows’ has been lifted directly from Zilla With Her Eyes Shut's acclaimed, self-titled album of deeply personal stories, which ranged from memories of childhood trauma, mysterious injuries sustained sleepwalking and coming to terms with the voices in her head. Sounds for the beats, produced by label boss Matthew Herbert, were sourced from everyday objects pertinent to the stories being shared. Praise for the album has not been in short supply, with notable fans including Lauren Laverne, Mixmag, Clash Magazine and Huw Stephens, who said "haven’t heard anything like it...it’s phenomenal".
While still built from the same DNA as the rest of the album, ‘Rainbows’ formed one of its softer, more soporific moments. It follows a story of finding the gift in pain and of embracing it with open arms. I broke up with my ex in Shanghai, one of my favourite cities in the world. I remember walking in the rain in a loud, busy street, with so many people around, but everything felt so still, echoey and silky smooth (like the
chants). It was a mixture of the pain (rain) and the euphoria of being in Shanghai (the rainbow).
The piece moves at an easy pace, with Zilla’s arresting, bittersweet vocal performance in both English and Mandarin, framed by some beautifully understated, ethereal production work. At the forefront, meticulous layers
of voice and melody capture focus, while muted percussion and subtle harp work add an injection of colour to the rich sonic picture.
Moodymann creates innovative soul funky music with deep 70s inspiration. The vocals are simply outstanding. A step back in time, 50 years ago! Superb. jef37