Silver Haze is the debut studio album by Sqürl, a duo consisting of filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and film producer Carter Logan. The album was released on May 5, 2023, by Sacred Bones Records. It was produced by the duo and Randall Dunn and features collaborations with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anika, and Marc Ribot. Two singles were released from the album, both with music videos directed by Jem Cohen. It was received positively by critics.
| Silver Haze | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 5, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Drone rock, stoner rock | |||
| Length | 38:44 | |||
| Label | Sacred Bones | |||
| Producer | Randall Dunn, Sqürl | |||
| Sqürl chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Silver Haze | ||||
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Background
editSqürl, originally known as Bad Rabbit, was formed by Jarmusch, Logan, and sound engineer Shane Stoneback to score the former's 2009 film The Limits of Control. They subsequently released multiple EPs and scores for other Jarmusch films including Only Lovers Left Alive and Paterson. The name "Sqürl" is a reference to the Cate Blanchett segment of Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes.[1][2][3]
Release
editThe lead single, "Berlin '87", was released March 8, 2023, along with a music video directed by Jem Cohen.[4][5] The video consists of black-and-white shots of Berlin streets, with the track having been inspired by Jarmusch's time living in the city.[6] The second single, "John Ashbery Takes a Walk" featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg, released on April 4 with another video by Cohen.[7] The album was released on May 5.[8]
Style
editThe album has been called drone rock[9] and stoner rock.[10]
Reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| MusicOMH |    [12] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10[13] |
| Spectrum Culture | 75%[14] |
| Uncut | 8/10[15] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Silver Haze received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.[11] Aquarium Drunkard included the album in their unranked 2023 Year in Review, with a blurb that called it "Sqürl's most expansive outing to date, a long form listen that evokes the patient, meditative drifts of Jarmusch's best films."[16]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Jim Jarmusch and Carter Logan with others noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Berlin '87" | 4:37 | |
| 2. | "The End of the World" | 5:47 | |
| 3. | "Garden of Glass Flowers" (featuring Marc Ribot) | Ribot | 4:25 |
| 4. | "She Don't Wanna Talk About It" (featuring Anika) | Annika Henderson | 4:39 |
| 5. | "Il Deserto Rosso" (featuring Marc Ribot) | Ribot | 6:01 |
| 6. | "John Ashbery Takes a Walk" (featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg) | John Ashbery | 3:28 |
| 7. | "Queen Elizabeth" | 3:10 | |
| 8. | "Silver Haze" | 6:37 | |
| Total length: | 38:44 | ||
Personnel
editMusicians
edit- Jim Jarmusch – guitar (1–4), vocals (2, 4)
- Carter Logan – drums (1, 2, 4), Moog synthesizer (2, 4), percussion (3)
- Arjan Miranda – bass (1–4)
- Brent Arnold – cello (1)
- Marc Ribot – guitar (3, 4)
- Anika – vocals (4)
- Charlotte Gainsbourg – vocals (6)
Technical
edit- Jim Jarmusch – producer
- Carter Logan – producer
- Randall Dunn – producer, mixing engineer
- Heba Kadry – mastering engineer
- Garret De Block – recording engineer
- Arjan Miranda – recording engineer
References
edit- ^ Joyce, Colin (May 4, 2023). "Sqürl, Silver Haze". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Helman, Peter (April 27, 2023). "May Music Preview: The Jonas Brothers return, and Alison Goldfrapp goes solo". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Bell, Nicholas (May 5, 2023). "Jim Jarmusch on Sqürl's New Album: "We Don't Follow Any Master Plan"". Spin. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (March 9, 2023). "Sqürl - "Berlin '87"". Stereogum. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (March 8, 2023). "Jim Jarmusch's Sqürl Announce Debut Album, Share Video for New Song "Berlin '87"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Silver Haze: Jarmusch band Sqürl with debut". Indo & NY. May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (April 4, 2023). "Sqürl - "John Ashbery Takes a Walk" (featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg)". Stereogum. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Pearce, Leonard (May 5, 2023). "Listen: Jim Jarmusch's Band Sqürl Releases Debut Album Silver Haze". The Film Stage. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Wray, Daniel Dylan (22 April 2023). ""The film industry is gone. It sucks": Jim Jarmusch on swapping directing for drone rock". The Guardian. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (May 5, 2023). "Indie Basement (5/5): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Silver Haze by Sqürl Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Horton, Ross (May 5, 2023). "Sqürl – Silver Haze". MusicOMH. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Howe, Brian (May 18, 2023). "Sqürl: Silver Haze Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Vellucci, Justin (May 10, 2023). "Sqürl: Silver Haze". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Wray, Daniel Dylan. "Sqürl – Silver Haze". Uncut. p. 36. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Year in Review". Aquarium Drunkard. December 11, 2023. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.