Genre serves as a vessel for SASAMI, the indie project of Sasami Ashworth, who fully embraced her heavy metal and pop punk influences on the industrial-leaning Squeeze in 2022. However, her follow-up takes on a pop pivot, similar to her former tourmate Mitski’s 2022 effort. Despite starting with a diaristic collection of lush shoegaze on her self-titled debut, Ashworth did not present herself as a secret metalhead nor did she grow up revering pop. As a conservatory-trained French horn player, Ashworth developed a playful curiosity about pop music, showcasing her versatility without straying from her core vision. Produced by Jenn Decilveo and Rostam, Blood on the Silver Screen finds compelling ways to twist and expand the songs, but the shining moments are the great songs themselves, unbound by style.
1. Slugger
The album kicks off with ‚Slugger‘, a song that quickly hooks listeners with its addictive chorus. Ashworth and her collaborators enhance the song’s production, making it feel both huge and gauzy. She showcases vulnerability in her vocals, balancing confidence and absurdism in the catchy pop song.
2. Just Be Friends
Despite its mention of self-hatred, ‚Just Be Friends‘ is a sweet and wistful song about being hopelessly in love, featuring another hummable chorus.
3. I’ll Be Gone
‚I’ll Be Gone‘ exudes cinematic bombast reminiscent of The Weeknd, with Ashworth’s frustrated yet lovesick vocals standing out over the alluring electropop production.
4. Love Makes You Do Crazy Things
‚Love Makes You Do Crazy Things‘ combines glam-metal tendencies with a pop tune structure, featuring interesting percussion choices and a bold sound.
5. In Love With a Memory [feat. Clairo]
Ashworth and Clairo harmonize beautifully on ‚In Love With a Memory‘, representing characters longing for the past and the future. Rostam’s production elevates the song, highlighting a technically impressive guitar solo.
6. Possessed
The synths on ‚Possessed‘ create an engulfing atmosphere, with tension building throughout the track.
7. Figure It Out
‚Figure It Out‘ explodes with playful lyrics, though it relies heavily on platitudes. The melody is reminiscent of Clairo’s style.
8. For the Weekend
‚For the Weekend‘ channels a bratty pop-punk vibe, infused with humor and nostalgia from Ashworth’s Cherry Glazer days.
9. Honeycrash
‚Honeycrash‘ stands out as the album’s most evocative and potent track, with crashing guitars and booming drums creating an overwhelming yet poetic plea.
10. Smoke (Banished From Eden)
This short instrumental interlude showcases Ashworth’s French horn skills, providing a moment of intensity.
11. Nothing But a Sad Face On
Despite its cinematic arrangement, ‚Nothing But a Sad Face On‘ feels somewhat superfluous, with a clunky mantra that lacks impact.
12. Lose It All
Closing the album on a high note, ‚Lose It All‘ is a delightful track reminiscent of HAIM’s sound. Macht Sinn, da dies das andere Lied ist, das Rostam – nein, Moment mal, das ist das nächste, das… 13. Der Samen geht voll Grunge? Und es funktioniert wirklich gut, denn es stellt sicher, dass die Anfangs- und Endstücke des Albums unterschiedlich, aber gleichermassen beeindruckend sind. In seinem ersten Vers bietet ‚Der Samen‘ eine passende Zusammenfassung der Themen und metaphorischen Sprache von Blood on the Silver Lake: „Liebe, es ist ein Feuer, das in dir brennt/ Schmerz, es ist der Treibstoff, der es dreht/ Veränderung, es ist der Wind, der die Flammen anfacht und/ Wachstum, es ist die Asche, die seinen Namen trägt.“ Über dynamische Produktion spielt Ashworth dann mit den Worten, als ob er einen Ausweg aus Zweifel, Dunkelheit und Klischees schnitzen wollte. Ashworth deutet nicht darauf hin, welche der genannten Kräfte im Vorteil ist. Nur zwei Zeilen brennen voller Überzeugung, ein echtes Versprechen: „Ich werde dein Schutz sein durch Kälte und Regen/ Dich sicher und warm halten.“ Eine Erinnerung daran, dass Liebe dich auch zu den einfachsten Dingen bringen kann. Blood On the Silver Screen von SASAMI.