No matter the season, I find myself constantly gravitating towards music that feels autumnal. I want something that sounds cozy, dark, and melancholic – anything that will serve to remind me of the scent of damp leaves and petrichor. The latest EP from Swedish slowcore group Rabbit Fire, Orbit, is a wonderfully autumnal work. However, it was released at the peak of summer. Rabbit Fire’s delightfully dissonant sound is just right, existing in a fuzzy, scratchy realm of its own. Slight detuning and pitch bends throughout the EP create a nostalgic atmosphere, transporting me to dimly lit evenings and the feel of wool sweaters against my chilled skin.
The title track “Orbit” is delicate, like tiny beads on an invisible thread – humming guitars and charming synth melodies spin around the listener. It’s slightly dizzying in the best way. My favorite song, “Fuzz War,” features a beautifully sad chord progression juxtaposed against synth effects that sound like a glitchy radio. It’s a genuinely perfect tune, making my heart ache for a reason I don’t even understand. Listening to it feels like the limbo between dreaming and sleeping, transcendent yet blurry. The closing track, “Southern Noise,” wraps up the Orbit experience with beautifully plucked guitar melodies that feel referential to the opener, bringing the EP to a close by making you feel like you’re starting it again. A perfect orbit, indeed.
Written by Britta Joseph
