released: june 7, 2024

genre: electronic

from: manchester, uk / barcelona, spain

label: hyperdub records

a few thoughts: manchester-based artist iceboy violet has been one of the most exciting and innovative artists in recent years, with immersive projects and features that highlight their talents as a poet and emcee. you said you’d hold my hand through the fire is their new project, a collaborative new album with barcelona-based producer nueen. the 13-track album is bathed with hypnotic compositions, ethereal yet eerie in tone, capturing an urgency and darkness i’ve come to love from both artists. “heartbreak of a broken stitch (intro)” features an introspective poem from harriet morley, along with a reversed beat loop and an ethereal soundscape that sets the tone for the album perfectly. the dynamic groove of “sm_fid” has an incredible poetic and tone-setting verse that paints vivid images of landscapes and states of mind that define their experience. tracks like “cement skin” are emotive, with iceboy’s sung vocals over some skeletal, stripped back atmospheric production. it sounds intense yet incredibly beautiful, and is a definite highlight for me on the album. iceboy violet’s flow on “pixel petals” is incredible, while the intensity in sound of “closer” complements their immersive and intense verse perfectly. i love the energy of “terrance’s time womb”, as iceboy violet reflects on past relationships and carrying the energy of people in their lives forward with them. their emotive sung vocals on “fragmentary (eraser)” is another stunning moment on the album, while the instrumental of “inside my head (interlude)” is immersive and incredibly poignant throughout. the dynamic groove of “still” is also a striking moment, with dawuna’s warm background vocals and iceboy violet’s reflective lyrics on previous love interests and what could have been with that person. the ethereal and atmospheric “fawning (interlude)” incredible too, while “6am in helsinki (kiss me again)” featuring bennettiscoming closes the album out with an intimate yet groovy and upbeat energy, as they reflect once more on failed relationships, love and what could have been with the person they loved. it’s a revealing, intimate work of art that combines the dark and eerie electronic energy of urban nightlife with introspections about love and heartbreak. you said you’d hold my hand through the fire is a revealing and memorable body of work, with iceboy violet sounding as inspired as ever, and nueen providing some chilling, disorienting and atmospheric production that complements the themes of the album perfectly.

the album: