Musspell

About

" Melancholic, dreamy songs that float in from another dimension "

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Certainly, that’s true of the latest press image of Romanian trio Musspell. The two petals as tears on the face of vocalist and keyboardist Dósa Noémi-Diána – the flower itself is in her hair – and the defiant scowl worn by her bandmate, vocalist and guitarist Bölöni Anna-Tímea, is neatly symbolic of the dichotomy that powers their music. It’s melancholic yet energizing, dreamy yet bold. As they themselves say, they “seek a natural, ethereal sound for self-expression”; no surprise then that their debut album, released last year, was titled ‘Unity All And All’.

Weaving glacial synths and sparse electronica with Anna-Tímea’s spindly, misty guitar lines, the record’s ten tracks come across as something otherworldly. Ghostly, even. This free-floating musical subtlety is the perfect frame for their haunting, intertwining vocals – sitting halfway between mystical incantations and disembodied coos, the effect is like eavesdropping on a séance. Yet there are moments of levity aplenty; style too. Musspell know instinctively how to hold tension within a song, and to layer just enough elements to keep the atmospheres and textures interesting.

Only one album since their formation in 2019 might seem a sparse return for such abundant talent, but their slow burn development – and success – is testament to letting things run their natural course. Numerous showcase festival appearances – they’ve played VOLT, Waves Vienna, and the Focus Wales Showcase among others – brought them to a broad audience. Playing Glastonbury Festival 2024 looks set to take that to a whole new level.