Genre:  Darkwave / Ethereal

01 Forward, you, me
02 Paralyzed
03 Transcend now to Nebula
04 Light Invades
05 Shock & Glow
06 Hound
07 Slow Death
08 Firefly
09 Sleeping Ghosts
10 House of Stone
11 Breathe
12 Death Melody

Even in the world of minimalism and ethereal spacey journeys, there is still room to move between the barriers and through the lines.  Scarlet Slipping rests somewhere in the mists between shoegaze acts like La Floa Maldita and Tearwave while retaining the cold and edgey strains of depressive illusions ala Lycia.  The music, however, has a haunting emotional quality though, not unlike that of Projekt's early lovebird Love Spirals Downwards, though it seems it would be more relative as the shadow of that project, considering the lack of a loving atmosphere and the replacement with a very bleak and melancholic, tragic sound.  The experimental aspect of her sound feels very largely influenced by 90's West Coast Goth Rockers Switchblade Symphony, a point which may take some reference from the project's only member's early days.

Scarlet Slipping is the solo brainchild of former Iowa resident, Dawn Wagner.  The woman has apparently led a very interesting life, starting out at 17 under “The Dragon Queen” and putting on some intense shows (with her body included, as well as a drum machine) in the Iowa punk underground.  She later relocated to Santa Barbara to become one with Trance to the Sun, replacing former member Zoe Wakefield on vocals, a band where she had the chance to share the stage with bands like the aforementioned Switchblade Symphony.  Dawn later traveled to San Fransisco and then to Minneapolis where she has since built a studio and settled down a bit.

In the cold and largely wild landscapes of Minnesota, its no surprise that a chilling and animalistic album like Hound could be realized and unleashed upon the world.  The music itself is very old-school, utilizing only analog elements to create the music.  The creation has taken place via drum machines, keyboards, and effects processors, as well  her very harmonious vocal style which can be expected from a project influenced so largely from shoegaze projects.  While this album may sneak under the radar of a lot of “Years Best” lists of 2008, largely due to the fact that the band is on a new, up and coming gothic-industrial label, Shinto Records, and the fact that the project itself is only realizing its sophomore effort with Hound, it is surprising to say that perhaps it should be included.  Musically, this album ranks amongst the best in the ethereal genre.  It doesn't simply use effects as a disguise, rather, the music itself is the effect, and the listener is the instrument, running the gauntlet of emotions expressed throughout.  Obviously, the shoegaze and goth-industrial era has passed, but to those looking for some dark, atmospheric beauty, or even just those of you looking to a nostalgic journey, and all fans of most Projekt-label music, this one is right up your alley.