ReGen ReView: Brittany Bindrim – Velella Velella
Yes, this album starts powerfully and well, like a trip that you now know you were always waiting for. And each new moment in that trip gives you every reason to write home and to want more. But it’s the end of that trip that cements this as one of the most effective musical journeys you will hear this decade, because even a great trip that leaves you wanting or wondering at the end will suffer because that is what you will remember. This should be vinyl. It should be a record that kills itself a little every time you play it, one that requires you to wait in line at Sam Goody’s one more time to get it all over again. Because by the end, it died for a good cause. I am clear about what I remember about this trip. And I think you will be too.
This is not a particularly short ReView, and it shouldn’t be. This genre of music has had a number of releases that proved to be more substantial and enduring than we even thought they would be on first listening, records that did their job on first listen and then continued to do other jobs for us, important ones, unseen ones. Back in the day of vinyl records, I used to find it a little humbling and tragic that each play of a record wore it down. I personally destroyed a lot of copies of The Hurting by Tears for Fears, and each one died for a good cause. These records lived with us through difficult times, elevated us when we needed them the most, and inspired us to make different decisions, maybe better ones, but certainly bigger ones.
You have the opportunity to listen to one of those records for the first time again. The only difference may be that this time, you have a sense of it going in for the first time. So, if you have the time, read this… if you don’t, just listen to the record. But if you are a fan of experiences, I give you a third option: find something that moves – a car with the roof up, maybe a boat. Find something that can move you through physical space. And lie down, face up, always face up. Look up at the sky, and put on track three from this album, “One Fixed Point,” and let yourself move through the world while you watch the stars pass you, moving in and out of your vision. And really listen. Let the song explain the rest. Watch your own point of reference move and feel the power of how you interact with the universe. Let yourself control the universe itself and don’t stop or look back. Just move forward and let that destination be okay, always. Let each point be better than the past one, because it will be… if you let it.
You will feel like the entire world around you is beautiful, but more than that, you may feel like I did, that it is more beautiful with your eye in it. When you direct it, letting the past fall away and the future wind out in front of you, you make it brilliant and expansive. You make it something better than it was. You have a record in front of you that makes you feel like the entirety of it all is better with you in it. And that is no little thing to pull off in the 2020s, when we cynically scrape the ground with our eyes each morning, placing bets on which year will be worse.
But each day, we move on. We sail on.
Brittany Bindrim
Album: Velella Velella
Category: Electro-pop / Industrial
Label: Metropolis Records
Release Date: 2024-03-08
Author: Jim Marcus (Mutilato)
The Velella Velella is also known as a “by the wind sailor.” It’s a Neuston – a creature that lives in between spaces, half in water, half in the open air. It moves forward with the confidence of the wind. They are close relatives of terror – the Portuguese Man-o-war, dangerous and poisonous colony of jellyfish. They are mysterious and beautiful, icy blue violet translucent, fascinating intrepid sailors whose journeys across the seas of the earth are perilous on days when they are not serene and hopeful. It isn’t a bad analogy for an album that feels as though it is constantly transporting you, via sail, across dense water and circumstance, beautifully, with elegance, but not without danger. It is the cousin of terror, but first and foremost, a beautiful sailor.
Powerful low end rhythms and synth notes never stop building cinematic momentum under the defining characteristic of the entire album, which is clearly Bindrim’s powerful voice, here heard as though you are hearing it mostly in your head, unaffected, without artifice, with harmonies and melodic runs that feel familiar and catchy while each time building something new. The space around her voice is bravely empty; there are no guitars or other tones that want to play in the same space as her voice, almost as if each had the good sense to stay clear and let her communicate with the raw tension and vision that she is capable of. As an artist and a person, she has proven that she doesn’t need anything but what she has to communicate.
And that constant movement keeps propelling the album forward, in ways that are uniquely appealing and inventive. This album proves over and over again that it belongs in a moving vehicle. Our experiment with track three is not over when the song ends; it’s perpetual. It loops through the record, changing each time, altering its rhythm and speed, each time creating something that moves you in multiple ways. It becomes a melodic dance record that asks you to put aside what you think you know about dancefloors and just move yourself the way you want to.
Until the very end… until the last song. That’s when this record pulls into the parking lot of an old, quiet nightclub, and Brittany Bindrim steps onto the stage and becomes something she was always made to be. This is where the lights pull up and she sings against a bed of virtual nothingness, stepping into a pinpoint light and ripping your heart out completely with “Atlas.” This is when she holds it all in the air with almost nothing in the room to hide the wealth of pure talent and commitment to the beauty and sustainability of her music and creates a song that will never go away.
Yes, this album starts powerfully and well, like a trip that you now know you were always waiting for. And each new moment in that trip gives you every reason to write home and to want more. But it’s the end of that trip that cements this as one of the most effective musical journeys you will hear this decade, because even a great trip that leaves you wanting or wondering at the end will suffer because that is what you will remember.
This should be vinyl. It should be a record that kills itself a little every time you play it, one that requires you to wait in line at Sam Goody’s one more time to get it all over again. Because by the end, it died for a good cause. I am clear about what I remember about this trip. And I think you will be too.
Post-punk.com Listen to Chicago Dark Industrial Pop Artist Brittany Bindrim’s “Velella Velella” LP
With her full-length solo debut album, Velella Velella, Brittany Bindrim — a stalwart of Chicago’s darkwave scene—whisks us away into a realm where avant-garde musicality intersects with deep, introspective narratives. Collaborating with the illustrious Matt McJunkins, whose production prowess is evident across a spectrum of genre-defining acts like A Perfect Circle and Eagles of Death Metal, Bindrim crafts a record that’s as eclectic as it is profound. Velella Velella is a testament to Bindrim’s relentless pursuit of pushing the boundaries, crafting a cohesive palette of sound whose dynamic range stretches from the introspective whispers of balladry to the pulsating rhythms of dance anthems.
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRITTANY BINDRIM – VELELLA VELELLA
But just when you think you’ve unraveled the depths of this album’s introspective nature, the tempo shifts, and you find yourself amid a pulsating dance floor. This album effortlessly transitions between moods, surprising you at every turn and keeping you guessing what’s next. As the final notes fade, you’re left with a lingering sense of awe and wonder.
Car Con Carne Podcast I:Scintilla singer Brittany Bindrim goes solo with ‘Vellela Velella’
Darkpop, darkwave, electropop artist Brittany Bindrim joins me to talk about her first-ever solo album, “Velella Velella” (out March 8).
As we eat tacos from La Traspasada in Avondale, we also talk about:
*Brittany’s non-music hobbies
*Why the members of I:Scintilla won’t be bothered or distracted by Brittany’s solo effort.
*This is Brittany's first time being pressed onto vinyl.
Car Con Carne (a Q101 podcast) is presented by Alex Ross Art. Visit Alex Ross on YouTube (@TheAlexRossArt) to keep up to date with one of the comics industry's most important and celebrated creators.
Post-punk.com - Chicago Dark Industrial Pop Artist Brittany Bindrim Debuts Video for “One Fixed Point”
The quest for one’s true counterpart is a deep dive into the soul, a search for a mirror that reflects and understands the intricate layers of one’s essence. It’s a journey of vulnerability and discovery, seeking someone who resonates with one’s deepest truths. This profound connection transcends mere companionship, fostering mutual growth and a unique understanding where silence and words carry equal weight. Finding such a person transforms and evolves the self in a pilgrimage towards the heart’s desires and the soul’s needs, culminating in transcendent love. Chicago artist Brittany Bindrim (I:Scintilla), explores this odyssey of the heart and soul with One Fixed Point, accompanied by a visually stunning video directed by Simona Noreik that captures a joyfully celestial ambiance.
ReGen: Brittany Bindrim reveals third single + music video from forthcoming solo debut
Anticipation has been running high for Velella Velella, the solo album debut from I:Scintilla vocalist Brittany Bindrim. “One Fixed Point” marks the third single after “Obelisk” and “Fever Dreams,” as the song presents Bindrim’s ethereal brand of dark pop with a dreamy narrative about infatuation and the depths one will traverse to satisfy it. As with “Obelisk,” the accompanying music video for “One Fixed Point” was shot by Simona Noreik with Bindrim, having made its premiere today, February 23.
AnalogueTrash - New Music: Fever Dreams
Brittany Bindrim is well known for her role as the vocalist on dark electronic rock outfit I:Scintilla. 2024 sees her releasing music under her own name, in the form of brooding electro banger Fever Dreams. Fans of KANGA, Alice Glass, and Poppy need to check this song out!
Today’s New Noise: Brittany Bindrim
Brittany Bindrim is a synthpop solo artist based out of Chicago. She recently released a new single called “Fever Dreams” off her upcoming album Velella Velella, and it’s currently streaming on her Bandcamp.
Electozombies: Brittany Bindrim – Fever Dreams
In her latest track "Fever Dreams", US artist Brittany Bindrim takes us into the dreamy world of dark pop. The song is another sample from her debut album "Velella Velella" and moves skilfully between dark pop and synth pop, while also having a certain radio appeal.
SPILL MAG: BRITTANY BINDRIM RELEAES NEW SINGLE & LYRIC VIDEO “FEVER DREAMS”
Brittany Bindrim has just released her latest single entitled “Fever Dreams,” accompanied by a stunning new lyric video assembled by animator Simona Noreik.
Post-punk.com - Chicago Dark Electronic Pop Artist Brittany Bindrim Debuts Her Video for “Obelisk”
Chicago musician Brittany Bindrim (I:Scintilla) has already carved a niche in the realm of electronic pop with her memorable melodies and robust vocal prowess. Today, she embarks on a bold new journey as a solo artist with the arresting “Obelisk,” accompanied by a monochromatic, dystopian-themed video crafted by director Simona Noreik.
Alice Teeple - Chicago musician Brittany Bindrim (I:Scintilla) has already carved a niche in the realm of electronic pop with her memorable melodies and robust vocal prowess. Today, she embarks on a bold new journey as a solo artist with the arresting “Obelisk,” accompanied by a monochromatic, dystopian-themed video crafted by director Simona Noreik.
This single represents a significant departure from her established style, as Bindrim delves into more experimental realms, showcasing her versatility and willingness to push the boundaries of her artistic expression. Obelisk distinguishes itself with its forceful, edgy undertones, characterized by unyielding beats and the stark resonance of harsh synthesizers…
Regenmag.com - Brittany Bindrim reveals first single and ethereal music video
As promised last month when the label announced the artist’s addition to their roster, Metropolis Records has revealed the “Obelisk” single and music video as the first taste of Brittany Bindrim’s forthcoming debut. Shot by Simona Noreik, the evocative and ethereal video sees Bindrim delivering her trademark melodies dreamily hovering amid gritty beats and synths. The song and video were revealed on Friday, December 8, with more singles planned over the coming months.
As promised last month when the label announced the artist’s addition to their roster, Metropolis Records has revealed the “Obelisk” single and music video as the first taste of Brittany Bindrim’s forthcoming debut. Shot by Simona Noreik, the evocative and ethereal video sees Bindrim delivering her trademark melodies dreamily hovering amid gritty beats and synths. The song and video were revealed on Friday, December 8, with more singles planned over the coming months…
Side-Line - I:Scintilla frontwoman Brittany Bindrim launches debut single ‘Obelisk’
Out now is “Obelisk”, the debut single from Chicago-based electronic pop artist Brittany Bindrim (I:Scintilla). The single is the first teaser for her solo debut album “Velella Velella” which will be out on Metropolis Records on March 8th 2024.
Electozombies - 'Obelisk'
Electozombies - Official music video 'Obelisk' by 'Brittany Bindrim' from the album 'Velella Velella'.
chain d.l.k. - BRITTANY BINDRIM DEBUT
Electronic pop vocalist Brittany Bindrim has just released her long-awaited debut single,”Obelisk,” along with a dreamy new video directed by Simona Noreik. Known for her catchy melodies and powerful vocal performances in the band I:Scintilla, Brittany ventures off into new sonic terrain as a solo artist on her forthcoming album 'Velella Velella' with hard-hitting, edgy tracks featuring punishing beats and harsh synthesizers. Expect additional singles over the next few months that will lead to the release of the album 'Velella Velella' by Metropolis Records in 2024.
Electronic pop vocalist Brittany Bindrim has just released her long-awaited debut single,”Obelisk,” along with a dreamy new video directed by Simona Noreik. Known for her catchy melodies and powerful vocal performances in the band I:Scintilla, Brittany ventures off into new sonic terrain as a solo artist on her forthcoming album 'Velella Velella' with hard-hitting, edgy tracks featuring punishing beats and harsh synthesizers. Expect additional singles over the next few months that will lead to the release of the album 'Velella Velella' by Metropolis Records in 2024.
aural aggravation: Watch: ‘Obelisk’ by Brittany Bindrim
Chicago-based electronic pop artist Brittany Bindrim has released her debut single, ‘Obelisk’, today on Metropolis Records, accompanied by a beautiful yet dystopian video directed by Simona Noreik. Known for her catchy melodies and powerhouse vocal performances in the post-industrial rock band I:Scintilla, Bindrim now ventures into foreign sonic terrain as a solo artist with this hard-hitting, edgy song packed with punishing beats and harsh synthesisers.
Chicago-based electronic pop artist Brittany Bindrim has released her debut single, ‘Obelisk’, today on Metropolis Records, accompanied by a beautiful yet dystopian video directed by Simona Noreik. Known for her catchy melodies and powerhouse vocal performances in the post-industrial rock band I:Scintilla, Bindrim now ventures into foreign sonic terrain as a solo artist with this hard-hitting, edgy song packed with punishing beats and harsh synthesisers.
Brittany Bindrim signs w/ Metropolis Records, announces debut single
Metropolis Records has announced Brittany Bindrim as the latest addition to the eminent label’s roster of artists, with “Obelisk” marking her debut single. Best known as the vocalist for electro/rock act I:Scintilla, Bindrim has long cultivated a reputation for formidable vocal performances and powerfully catchy melodies, qualities that are sure to be exhibited in her own striking electro-pop style on her forthcoming Velella Velella album.