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BUY THE CD
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Take soft, feminine, almost sweet-and-innocent-sounding vocals, put them in the hands of a producer known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and others, and what do you get? If you think the resulting album would be a risky musical combination that can’t possibly work, you’re not the only one. You wouldn’t think it would work—but somehow it does.
8mm’s music does, admittedly, take a little getting used to. I wasn’t sold at first listen, either. The contrast between the sweet, sometimes sultry, often breathy vocals and the edgy, sometimes eerie, often heavy instruments backing it up was unlike anything I’d ever heard. But when I played it again, the ying and yang of the unlikely combination won me over.
Opener, the six-song debut EP by vocalist Juliette Beavan and producer Sean Beavan has a stunning sound, filled with drama and poetry—and grit. Almost like a heavier, edgier version of Dido. It’s clear to see Beavan (Sean, that is) has worked with Trent Reznor. The similarities are often quite clear—but there’s plenty of variety on Opener. Take “Nothing Left to Lose,” for example, with its hip-hop beat and rap lyrics. Or “Crawl,” seductive and bluesy and hauntingly intimate.
You won’t find anything quite like 8mm out there. They’ve got a sound all their own. That may not be a sound that will appeal to listeners with a strictly mainstream, top-40 palate, but if you’re open to a little musical experimentation, give Opener a try. You might just like it.
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