LP: Presto Chango Records PCR 009-1 (on red vinyl)
Released: September 4, 2020
Band:
Saskia van der Giessen – vocals, guitar, violin, viola
Arne Wolfswinkel – guitar, bass, keys
Danielle Pijpers – backing vocals
Edwin Slothouber – drums (#1-6)
Luca Fiandri – drums (#7-12), bass (#10, 12)
Bas van Waard – cello (#9-11)
Recorded at Schenk Studio, Amsterdam on August 17-18, 2019 (side A) and August 18-23, 2018 (Side B).
Side A engineered by Edwin Slothouber, Side B Mixed by Renato Cannavacciuolo, except B4 Mixed by Ryan Hadlock & mastered by Renato Cannavacciuolo.
Words & music by Van Der Giessen / Wolfswinkel.
Cover art and design by Saskia & Arne.
The album is named after a composition by Mal Waldron.
“We begin with ‘Dark Dream’ which sets the tone for the whole album, there are definitely “Refused” vibes from this band, and also you get the delicious twangy bass we have come accustomed to from the punk community, the melodic hooks that bring the chorus home and back again.
In a world of polish, Labasheeda dares to walk the fine line between poppy melodies and gentle hardcore. The album threatens a live band that will no doubt “kick it” on stage but are able to delve into some actual song-craft for this album. There are times when this album feels like its withholding some grunt in the hardcore world, but as an album, it sits quite interestingly, lulling you into a sense of safety and then midway through it picks up to stove your heart in.
The album covers 12 tracks which show off the band’s ability to toe that line, we get a fairly wide range of melodic and gentle to wild and rowdy. The recording feels like it’s divided between someone filled with angsty sadness and someone who understands how to bring the melody to tie it all together, listen to this at 11 and it starts to make a lot more sense.”
(Dan Reid, MNPR Magazine)