Denmark’s prolific Jacob Faurholt has released an array of records, both under the moniker Crystal Shipsss and his own name, but the common spirit linking them is the down-to-earth DIY style. Most are recorded at home, leading to a lo-fi aesthetic which fits into the rich lineage of songwriters emerging from founding figures like Daniel Johnson. This year sees the release of Jacob Faurholt’s tenth solo album When the Spiders Crawl on Raw Onion Records, and first single ‘Comforting Sounds’ is in part an acknowledgement of these influences. An ode to those who inspired Faurholt to set out on the path he now walks.
“When I was young living with my parents, my mother would be worried about my mental state because of the music coming from my room,” Faurholt explains. “One album I listened to again and again was Sophia’s sadcore masterpiece Fixed Water. Indeed the music was gloomy, but to me it felt like a warm soothing blanket, and it resonated in me. ‘Comforting Sounds’ is a salute to the music that has meant so much to me over the years.” In the song’s lyrics he name-drops the bands that form what he calls the soundtrack of his life. “Galaxie 500, Low, Red House Painters,” slowcore/sadcore heavyweights that nevertheless provide comfort rather than desolation.
The mood is therefore downbeat but coloured by an overriding fondness. The kind of melancholy you can wrap yourself in. The tempo is heavy and unhurried, surrounded by a sense of homemade silence that recalls Down Colorful Hill-era Red House Painters. But, in spite of that, its not a dark song per se. The overwhelming feeling is one of grateful nostalgia, the lasting message a positive one. “Do you think music can save your soul?” Faurholt asks, before affirming, “I think music can save our souls, at least it did for me.”
When the Spiders Crawl will be released via Raw Onion Records in the second half of 2022. You can get ‘Comforting Sounds’ now from the Jacob Faurholt Bandcamp page.
Artwork by Nadia & Polly Faurholt