Mildred is an uncompromising and unending well of passion, sound and story. I came upon them by almost pure chance, which feels like the one true way to experience what they really are. If you wish to lower yourself into the abyss of their ethos, find more on their website. I've been meaning to take any chance to write about them, so I'll take that now. Send music shit to [ fosterhildingmusic@gmail.com ] or DM me on Instagram.
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| photos courtesy of Mildred. |
Easily one of the most original bands I've ever seen, let alone in our obscure corner of the musical world, Mildred absorbs elements of shoegaze, post-rock, skramz, and slowcore, and becomes, themselves, unlike any. Pt. Of Things To Come is their most abrasive release, cramming their expansive arrangements, wailing leads, cracking vocals, and bombastic drums with nugaze-ish edge into just four songs--and still, nothing means nothing.
Hung, despite being shorter in comparison to the other tracks, feels unending in its rise to some absurdist conclusion of power in Ivan's journey. Hung (wink) between Ivan, Charlie, and Paul's rupturing strumming and melting oases of strings, the intro sits us down in our own discomfort, wether we are willing to confront it or not--"retrieving your still-beating heart." Cristina and Hannah's vocals outline our uneasiness like wisps of reprieve, while Ahsohn forces beat into meaning beneath his constant drumming thump.
Lila is my favorite track from this project, split in two by the story of lust--nothing takes ahold of you as much as the moment of silence between them. It's steeped with motion in the most unexpected manner. Ivan's vocals coo beneath a wall of guitars that become one despite their clearness, building to an ending that never comes, leaving only a purpose and a wasting. Hints of Leina's violin line the edges of your sonic peripheral in the latter half, held in place by Cristina's cruising bass. I don't think I know anything else like this.
Drifter's Rebirth embraces the paradox of solipsism as a titular sequel to Drifter's Dream--an invitation to omnipotence that can only be understood once accepted. Noise and screams lead us in, paving way for Cristina's dusty, western bass, and guitars that feel like nothing but a memory. We drive and drive until it has to be broken with concise full band smatterings and an ending drowned in its own distortion, feeling like a sonic cavern so deep yet so tight as to never be explored. "I can see the ocean for how it swallowed the trees" sticks to me like glue.
Dancing Queen On Heroin is furthest from expectation: a drifting, lyricless, slow ride complete with Duster-esque clean guitar and Hector's fuzzy drums. Ivan's "la"s feel a room away, like a song for recovery. In the strangest way, it's the perfect closer.
I still have much to learn about Mildred, and more to experience. The story their songs tell is naturally unending--and for the story they tell themselves, I hope the same. If you have the opportunity to bathe in their sound, please see them live. You will not regret it. Thank you for reading.
9/10
Stream Pt. Of Things To Come.
-Foster
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