Sexwitch is a musical collaboration between the English rock band
Toy
A toy or plaything is an object that is used primarily to provide entertainment. Simple examples include toy blocks, board games, and dolls. Toys are often designed for use by children, although many are designed specifically for adults and pet ...
and Natasha Khan (
Bat for Lashes
Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), known professionally as Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. She has released five studio albums: ''Fur and Gold'' (2006), ''Two Suns'' (2009), '' The Haun ...
). Their self-titled album was released on 25 September 2015, and consists of six
cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s of 1970s
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
and
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
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songs from Iran, Morocco, Thailand and the United States.
Recording
Khan and Toy had previously collaborated in 2013 to cover "The Bride", a pre-revolution Iranian song. For ''Sexwitch,'' Khan and producer
Dan Carey bought several "old weird psych records from different countries, strange folk mountain songs", and invited Toy to record cover versions of the songs. The band learned the songs and recorded them in a single take in one day.
Release
On 24 August 2015, Sexwitch released a single, "Helelyos", online. ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' described it as a "hypnotic, Middle Eastern-infused groove". ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' said ''Sexwitch'' comprised "hypnotic, groove-based tracks that feature jagged post-punk guitars" and "shrieking crescendos". Sexwitch played their festival debut at
Green Man
The Green Man is a legendary being primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth that occurs every spring. The Green Man is most commonly depicted in a sculpture, or other representation of a face which is ...
in 2015.
''Sexwitch'' track list
References
Musical groups from Brighton and Hove
{{UK-band-stub