Hersh Dagmarr – Glitter Down the Cliff (2020)
All of us have read a book that had a lasting impact on us and Hersh Dagmarr is no different. His latest EP Glitter Down the Cliff is loosely inspired by H.G. Ballard’s book ‘Crash’. Wanting to channel the sense of extreme and frightening romanticism from the book, Dagmarr combines electronic pop and jazz. The EP consists of two versions of the single ‘Glitter Down the Cliff’ creating a unique soundscape that encapsulates a range of emotions.
While the book forms a loose basis for the EP, Dagmarr also draws on his experience as a singer-songwriter, producer and visual artist. Adding a hint of cabaret to the soundscape, he crafts something that is different yet engaging.
‘Glitter Down the Cliff’ has an intense opening that fills you with an ominous sense. The opening lines make you think that there is something creeping in the background. Dagmarr’s vocals bring a theatrical vibe to the song while a sense of cabaret rests on the piano lines. The light electronic tones in the deeper levels of the melody add to the swirling soundscape. There is a swing in the melody that takes a jazzy turn with hazy vocals. The combination of different elements creates a frightening vibe overlaid by something intimate and velveteen.
The second version on the EP ‘Glitter Down the Cliff (Pabst’s Tango Alternative Version)’ has a very different sonic vibe. There is a deep pulsing beat with shuffling tones that creates the almost creepy vibe. The more electronic flow to this song turns the cabaret original into a dark dance style track. The interplay between melodic elements is more pronounced with this version as you swing from pounding beats to light electronic notes and the original piano line. This version also has a more expansive feeling to it compared to the almost intimate feel of the original. You can almost taste the extremes of the lyrics through the melody of this version.
Hersh Dagmarr offers a twisting blend of jazz, cabaret and electronic pop in his EP Glitter Down the Cliff. The EP contains two versions of the single, but they are so different you would think they are completely different songs. The intimate feeling of the original gives way to a more expansive extreme for the alternative version.
Find out more about Hersh Dagmarr on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
