Skyllumina by Ruth Goller

SKYLLUMINA represents a new evolution of London-based, Italian-born composer, bassist, and vocalist Ruth Goller.

Goller is known for her bass and vocal work with Alabaster DePlume, whose music she elevates in live contexts with her genre-less improvisational intuition. She's also known for work with Bex Burch's Vula Viel, whose DIY label released Goller's solo debut Skylla in 2021. And she is known to creative musicians far and wide, with an incredibly diverse CV that includes performance and recording with Shabaka Hutchings, Rokia Traore, Melt Yourself Down, Sam Amidon, Damon Albarn, and many more.

Expanding on the wholly original sound Goller established with her solo work on Skylla – i.e. compositions of detuned bass under a spectra of soprano voices she arranged and overdubbed herself – SKYLLUMINA complicates matters as she augments every piece with a different drummer. “As a bass-player, I love playing with drummers and I decided to focus on my close connection to that instrument and to the amazing people I met in my life who play it,” says Goller. Her accompanists on the album include International Anthem labelmates Bex Burch, Tom Skinner, and Frank Rosaly, as well as prolific British player Sebastian Rochford and longtime Vula Viel collaborator Jim Hart. But more importantly: this music is an immersive hyperfocus for Goller and her patently distinct, singular compositional vision.

SKYLLUMINA, despite its highly conceptual origins, is heavy with human emotion. Its dark washes of melody and contrapuntal percussion could fit easily into a mixtape with indie downbeat / ennui royalty like Grouper or Low, while also being right at home next a Cage-Tudor prepared piano piece. And the piercing, sibilant ice age siren song heard in Goller's powerfully feminine vocal arrangements find her in an otherworld only occasionally inhabited by the likes of Björk and The Knife.

Goller says: “This record is deep insight into my soul and my recent life. It’s coming through a meteor storm and grasping the first light... out of a very unexpected tumultuous time... there are feelings of grief, loss, hope, purest of love, connection to my home, death, and new configurations... as well as self-discovery.”
credits
released March 1, 2024

01) Below my skin
Tom Skinner: drums and electronics. Ruth Goller: electric bass and vocals.

02) Reach down into the deepest white
Mark Sanders: drums. Ruth Goller: electric bass and vocals.

03) Of Snowhere
Mark Sanders: drums. Jim Hart: vibraphone. Ruth Goller: double bass

04) Next time I keep my hands down
Jim Hart: vibraphone and drums. Ruth Goller: electric bass, double bass and vocals.

05) All the light I have, I hand to you
Max Andrzejewski: drums. Ruth Goller: electric bass and vocals

06) She was my own she was myself
Bex Burch: sanza and llimba. Ruth Goller: double bass and vocals.

07) How to be free from it
Emanuele Maniscalco: drums. Ruth Goller: electric bass, double bass and vocals.

08) From breaks to shreds it’s a short path
Sebastian Rochford: drums. Lauren Kinsella: vocals. Ruth Goller: electric bass and vocals.

09) Don’t follow me
Will Glaser: gongs. Ruth Goller: electric bass and vocals.

10) I have for you - simple truth
Frank Rosaly: drums and percussion. Ruth Goller: electric bass, double bass and vocals.

All music composed and produced by Ruth Goller.
Mixed by Dave Vettraino.
Mastered by David Allen.

Masks by wintercroft.com
Artwork by Zak Watson
Poem by Alabaster DePlume
Design by Craig Hansen

Thank you: Scottie McNiece, Dave Vettraino, David Allen, Alejandro Ayala and everyone at International Anthem, Alice Grant, Lauren Kinsella and all the amazing musicians who have contributed to this record, Bex Burch and Vula Viel records, Barbara, Peter, Pedro Velasco and Nell Greco.
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c all rights reserved

Tracklist

1.	Below my skin	3:40

2.	Reach down into the deepest white	4:27

3.	Of Snowhere	1:48

4.	Next time I keep my hands down	3:41

5.	All the light I have I hand to you	6:40

6.	She was my own she was myself	4:45

7.	How to be free from it	3:40

8.	From breaks to shreds it's a short path	4:30

9.	Don't follow me	5:05

10.	I have for you - simple truth	6:15

Credits

released March 1, 2024

License