The Haunted Palace formed in 2020 consisting of duo Erika Batdorf and Richard Feren, who are looking forward to reeling audiences in with their ghostly renderings of darkwave and goth-pop inspired by their favorite 4AD music and similar music from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Feeling very dark and moody in vibe, their debut four-song EP Emerging gives us a first look into what this band is all about. Usually, the instrumentation was written by Feren first, then Batdorf accompanied the music with lyrics and vocal melody lines she would write down, then both artists would get together to shape the vocal and harmonies and finally everything would be mixed by Feren. This seems to work out as the haunting soundscapes on this EP hints at what might lay on the shadowy abyss. Emerging EP takes us deeper into the unknown, highlighting sounds using mostly software instruments. But with so many shades and nuances to their sound, it comes across as sounding more. Batdorf’s vocals shift and change colors according to the track, and it is her versatileness that ties everything together. Batdorf and Feren have created something very interesting: both dark and dream-like, something to enrich your waking dreams and entrench yourself in your nighttime reveries – there is just something very otherworldly about this EP.
Emerging EP starts off with “You Are My Seas,” where ghostly synths rush into the sounds here. As the screeching of gulls and ocean waves comes in, the haunting vibes become more present. The ambiance is eerie as soft vocals slowly come in. Batdorf’s vocals at moments reminded me of Enya. There was a very new-agey approach to her vocal style. As the music progresses, more of the moody atmosphere comes through. Feeling very gothic and dark, this intro definitely piqued my interest to hear more. On “Walking Away,” some static-y guitars sound out here. As the vocals come in, the beats also gain traction. There was a very dark sonic environment to this track. I enjoyed the immediacy of the vocals. I thought this gave the track a very dramatic air. On “The Next Year In Venice,” the sound is lush sounding. Batdorf’s spoken word-like vocals recites some French phrases. Next, her vocals come right in. This time she mostly sings in English. The sounds of the bell tolling sets in with an unsettling vibe. This was a very atmospheric piece with tons of mood and ambiance. What sounds like a xylophone trickles in on “Sweetheart Slow Down.” Next, some beats softly pulsate in the background as eerie ghost-like whispers enter. Then Batdorf’s theatrical vocals arrive that sound like something straight from a Broadway production. As percussive beats come in, the music becomes more sweeping and epic. This was another number filled with ambiance. There is a lot to experience on this expansive closer. Feren and Batdorf are both theater artists and there is a very theatrical aspect to these tracks. There is also a whole lot of atmosphere to these songs and it is no wonder since Feren has lent his hand as a sound designer for theater & dance, is a composer for numerous film scores and is a lifelong horror bluff. Batdorf is a playwright, director, actor and professor at York University’s theater department, and this EP owes a lot of its theatricalness to her. Leaning onto a lot of eerie moods and dark elements, this is the perfect accompaniment to enjoy your Halloween celebrations. The ghostly vocals and haunting music have just the right amount of chill factor to get you in the mood for this season’s spooky factor. If chilling gothic vibes is right down your alley, then this will be something just for you. Give this a spin today!
1 Comment
10/31/2021 05:30:42 pm
Beautiful and romantic. Great for trips down memory lane.
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