Stella Rose, a NYC musician and the daughter of Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan has made her debut with “Muddled Man,” a menacing track with a palpable atmosphere of darkness.
Released shortly before Halloween, the song evokes the energy of gothic acts such as Bauhaus with its urgent opening and Rose’s deep, shaky vocals.
Produced by Yves Rothman, every bit of the track’s meticulous composition shines through. From its sludgy synths to its pounding snare to its mystical string notes to the echo of Rose’s singing and beyond, “Muddled Man” oozes ounces of haunting energy.
This is equally reflected in its lyrical content, which seems to describe some sort of sinister love affair. Lines like “I’ll have you once again, until then I’m well fed,” and “a muddled man who loves me the way I am” reflection narration of someone looking for romance through personal chaos.
While this song is split into two parts, the loud and brooding first section transitions perfectly into the spacy, gloomy second. Backdropped by muddied drums, arpeggiating strings, and echoing piano, Rose’s delivery calms down drastically and her lyrical content sacrifices its aggression. “How does it feel, when the feeling isn’t enough?” Rose wistfully asks.
While “Muddled Man” is a debut effort from Stella Rose, nothing about it speaks inexperience. This collaboration with Yves Rothman is a gripping and chilling track that espouses some of gothic music’s best qualities.
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