A Comforting Notion
| A Comforting Notion | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | March 24, 2023 | |||
| Length | 16:34 | |||
| Label | Speedy Wunderground | |||
| Producer | Dan Carey | |||
| Heartworms chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Comforting Notion | ||||
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A Comforting Notion is the debut EP by English musician Heartworms. It was produced by Dan Carey and released through his imprint Speedy Wunderground on 24 March 2023. The EP was met with positive reception from music critics.
Background and release
[edit]Heartworms was signed to record producer Dan Carey's imprint Speedy Wunderground after he was impressed by her demos.[1] She released the single "Consistent Dedication" on 9 September 2022,[2][3] and released the single "Retributions Of An Awful Life" on 17 January 2023.[4] A Comforting Notion was released through Speedy Wunderground on 24 March 2023.[5]
Composition
[edit]A Comforting Notion was produced by Dan Carey.[5] It opens with the track "Consistent Dedication", which incorporates pulsating bass lines, metallic guitars,[1] and synthesizers.[6] Heartworms's vocals on the track switch from whispering to screaming,[7][1] and she delivers lyrics which were described as "oblique" by John Amen of The Line of Best Fit.[6] The following track, "Retributions Of An Awful Life", features "angular guitars" and "propulsive rhythms", according to Under the Radar's Andy Von Pip.[1] Midway through the song, an instrumental segment built on a drone fluctuates in volume.[6] On the title track, Heartworms's voice is pained and more animated.[1][6] Compression and reverb effects are applied to her vocals, which Amen said gave them "a 'transistor' effect".[6] The final track on the EP, "24 Hours", contains "metronomic rhythms" that "build steadily and become increasingly urgent", according to Von Pip.[1] The song combines spoken-word and melodic vocal performances,[6] and builds into a crescendo.[5] Heartworms said that the song is about "being at secondary [school] and just not fitting in".[1]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 95/100[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |  [7] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[6] |
| Under the Radar | 8/10[1] |
| NME | [5] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, A Comforting Notion received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 95 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.[8] It received positive reviews from DIY,[7] The Line of Best Fit,[6] Under the Radar,[1] and NME.[5]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Consistent Dedication" | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Retributions Of An Awful Life" | 5:25 |
| 3. | "A Comforting Notion" | 3:35 |
| 4. | "24 Hours" | 4:23 |
| Total length: | 16:34 | |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Pip, Andy Von (24 April 2023). "A Comforting Notion EP". Under the Radar. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ Murray, Robin (21 September 2022). "Heartworms Signs To Speedy Wunderground, Shares 'Consistent Dedication'". Clash. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ Renshaw, David (4 October 2022). "Song You Need: Heartworms' "Consistent Dedication" is a jolt from the shadows". The Fader. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ Richards, Will (17 January 2023). "Heartworms announces debut EP 'A Comforting Notion' with single 'Retributions Of An Awful Life'". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Trendell, Andrew (21 March 2023). "Heartworms – 'A Comforting Notion' EP review: say hello to the next great cult band". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Amen, John (25 March 2023). "Heartworms offer up multifaceted dystopian rage on the ironically titled A Comforting Notion EP". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b c Cabré, Alex (24 March 2023). "Heartworms - A Comforting Notion". DIY. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b "A Comforting Notion". Metacritic. Retrieved 9 February 2025.