We first wrote about Philadelphia’s Cyberbully Mom Club (aka Shari Heck) back in July, just after she released her previous album Outdoor Activities. Well now she’s back with a new EP called amy locust whenever, a release which sees her continue to make intimately sad and sweet lo-fi tunes.
The EP begins with ‘smoking to death’, a tale of uncertainty and frustration that arises from a relationship turned sour, from the breakdown of once simple communications. “Don’t think i don’t detest the way you go on and on,” she sings near the close, ”and pretend that’s nothing wrong.“
‘Lifetime Warranty’ is probably my favourite track on the EP. It’s lyrics have a really nice fluidity and Heck’s breathless delivery makes it sound like each verse is comprised of just one really long line. My favourite line in the song is this one: ”Is my vision getting clearer now that I can barely see? I wish I lived inside a tiny box with fish and birds and leaves(?)“ Don’t we all?
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163636112″]
The last track ‘Poem Song’ is a bit different; shambling, reverb-y lo-fi and offers another hint of what Cyberbully Mom Club could be like as a fully-fledged band. There’s also a really nice cover of Kississippi’s ‘Dogmas’, which is probably worth the $1 entry fee alone.
The main strength of Heck’s songwriting is the sense of empathy she manages to create. Her sadness feels comforting but not in a cruel, schaudenfreude sense, but rather a sense of solidarity. Instead the sadness feels like a warm blanket, an old pair of slippers, something familiar and reassuring. It’s the way Heck uses her music to say “sometimes I don’t feel okay” that speaks to us the listeners, and makes us feel better when we ourselves feel that way.
You can buy amy locust whatever for a dollar or more over at the Cyberbully Mom Club bandcamp page.
P.S. Heck is rather prolific so be sure to check out her bandcamp page for lots more like this.