Review: Vali.sc’s EP ‘To Set the Sea in Wolves Teeth’

JAMMIN’ WITH JAMIE

EP REVIEW: TO SET THE SEA IN WOLVES TEETH by Vali.sc

From: Los Angeles, California.

Genre: Shoegaze

Label: Cercle Social Records (Soft Kill)

Release date: February 28th, 2022

Vali.sc (pronounced valley) is Kenneth Elkin’s (former guitarist of Sextile) brand new shoegaze project that is highly influenced by growth and moving forward after dealing with a dark past.

LISTEN TO THE NEW SINGLE SUB/VERT

AVAILABLE NOW ON BANDCAMP

(This track was released earlier this month on February 14th, which is also his anniversary date of being 4 years sober).

EP DESIGN: @shaundurkan

INSIDE POLAROID PHOTO: @conradv

MASTERED BY: @adamgonsalves

TRACK LIST

1. Through Trust– ambient noise with no lyrics. perfect for a chill, lowkey day.

2. trans– probably the most upbeat sound out of all the other songs and has an 80s dark wave feel to it.

3. Interlude– a 37 second track that sends you off to outer space.

4. Sub/vert- the first song release off of the EP that sweeps you off your feet…

“Question my love

And say that you will never leave me .

Tell me that your never leaving

I’m sacred to myself

And no one else .

Phantom leave

Or run circles around me

A feeling I can’t control

It happens all so suddenly

Am I over my head?

I’m over my head

Am I over my head ?

I’m over my head”

5. To Set The Sea In Wolves Teeth– inspired by a poem that was once sent to him by a past love regarding a relapse and behaviors that followed.

MY REVIEW

To Set The Sea in Wolves Teeth is Elkin’s light at the end of the tunnel. It shares his personal story about being an addict in recovery and being in love- both a crazy cocktail. This EP will also bring hope to many other people recovering from substance abuse, as it did for me. After chatting with Kenny, I found that we both stay clean by focusing on music and spending time with both of our families. During active addiction, we both felt lost (as do most people) mentally and literally. Shoegaze is in his DNA and always enjoyed that genre of music after listening to it with his family over the years. Some of their favorites include Slowdive, The Cocteau Twins and 4AD. My folks also introduced me to a lot of music and for that I am forever thankful. Music makes us feel less alone. Out of all the songs on the EP, I connected with the track and EP title, To Set The Sea In Wolves Teeth the most. The song really shows the highs and lows in addictive addiction and the beautiful chaos of love- a feeling us recovering people often now fill the void with.

Bottom line, love is the strongest drug there is.

Don’t do heroin.

And always remember it takes two to toxic…

PRE-ORDER TO SET THE SEA IN WOLVES TEETH

(Limited cassettes available via Cercle Social Records)

This EP is dedicated to Eddie Wuebben, a former Sextile bandmate who passed away from a drug overdose in 2019. Rest in power Eddie.