HEARTWORMS - ‘A COMFORTING NOTION’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a fascination for trench warfare, monochromatic aesthetics, and… uhhh… poetry by candlelight, Jojo Orme - performing under the Heartworms moniker - is the mastermind behind perhaps the most potent new-wave punk around. Her creativity knows no bounds as this exhilarating debut EP transports you through dirty German techno clubs, Alice in Wonderland style nightmares, and chained incarcerations. Strap yourself in for this dystopian take on the present, you won’t be the same after it.

‘Consistent Dedication’ kicks off the project with trepidation as haunting guitars join a closed, fast-tempo hi-hat beat and moody bass. Jojo’s breathy vocals ooze confidence over the background, taking centre stage with an intimate edge and a mean streak. Chaos quickly ensues as the track devolves into its poetic crux: “Endlessly mad, he’ll chew his eyes, tumble from the high, full of surprise”. Its repetition shapeshifts from sultry cadence, matter-of-fact statement, and then to the full-blown roar of a soldier returning affirmations to a commander before effortlessly reverting to the initial vocal style for the last “full of surprise”. This is an artist in full control of disorder, revelling in its mischief like a Mad Hatter, and leaving you wondering what on Earth in coming next.

There’s something almost industrial about the next track ‘Retributions of an Awful Life’, with its throbbing bass, staccato synths and syncopated percussion transporting you back to the 80s heyday of drum machine usage. You’ve found yourself in a factory of mechanical components competing for attention with their individual sounds, somehow this is harmonious and exciting. A cold and sinister aura surrounds the track caused most significantly caused by a faint shriek and biting distorted guitar chords acting in a piston-like manner; a loud whisper further cements this cruel environment. The song is truly made by the middle eight section, tension builds from the previous chorus and continues as Jojo’s vocals become smoother and more deliberate; the exclusion of the distorted guitars breaks down the song to its bare bones of the same pulsating bass and keys melody riding shotgun to her voice before everything is built back up into a sprawling array of sound. This is one of the songs of the year and confuses you into believing Heartworms are a much more established outfit than one having just released their debut EP.

Title track ‘A Comforting Notion’ retains the consistently uneasy atmosphere yet a decrease in its pace (compared to the previous two offerings) increases the feeling of spite. Underlying political angst fuels the lyrics here as Jojo implores that “Marxism freshens a folly ideal”, she likens the current governmental landscape that perpetuates poor wage structure and a lack of funding for the arts to a life of confinement - the yell of “remove the chains, my wrists are in strain” seems even more pertinent in recent times.

The project closes with the grungier ’24 Hours’. Jojo provides several vocal performances here to add texture where needed with poetic spoken-word sections, sung repetitions of the song’s gloomy hook, and slight inflections that give a menacing tone to her voice. Just as you think the EP has run its course the track breaks into a cathartic instrumental section to see the project off with confidence and maturity.

The overall feeling from ‘A Comforting Notion’ is one of pure expressionism. This is an artist who is meticulous in her production, taking influence from genres such as disco, krautrock, techno, pop, and grunge to create something unique. The best thing is there is still room for greater experimentation and interpretation, she is filled to the brim with ideas so keep your eyes peeled for this remarkable talent.