Photo: Alex Foster
In the notes that accompany the third single, 'Feeble', by Molly Sterling, the theme of the song is summarised as; "exploring the process of accepting your own weakness and wildness; and allowing both to exist together." I really like this idea, (well, it's more of a reality), the cross-over between the two, wildness can be mostly a good thing, but sometimes it comes with a price, another view would be that others may see our wild streak as a weakness, purely based on their own perceptions and worldview, when in fact, it's our greatest strength.
Weakness on the other hand is a much vaguer human trait to identify, by ourselves and others. We all live in denial of our weaknesses, particularly if we fall short in ways which are upheld as markers of success and status. From a personal perspective, I acknowledge a lot of my own excesses are borne from weakness, rather than struggle endlessly internally, I have to share a space. As Sterling alludes to, you need to build a friendship between the two before you can step onto some back-alley to 'happiness'.
The haunt of cello, an ancient pagan incantation, light-touch keys. Sterling's already traditional bare yet achingly beautiful sound unfurls. On very few occasions can you come across a piece of music that is so verbally bursting with great hope, but has sheer sadness and melancholy for company musically. On first listen I expected this method to continue to track's end, swinging gently between powerful vocal solos and soft instrumental drops. Half-way through though, a strident determination and defiance encompasses everything, a magnificent explosion of spine-tingling release is brewing. The precise moment of euphoria occurs on the half-second between 3:33 & 3:34, boom, bye bye hope, hello greatness. I'll never forget how Sterling's 2017 debut 'Plain Static' carved up the inside of my head for so long afterwards, 'Feeble' however, shoots this star far beyond that place.
'Feeble' was released today and is now available to download and stream on all popular platforms. Molly Sterling's debut headline show in Whelan's on the 22nd of March is sold out.
