Death is horrifying to begin with, but having to deal with losing the ones closest to us is some of the most agonizing shit there it. I grew up dreading my parents’ deaths, and now that both events have passed, it was nothing like I thought it would be. We fear the pain and sorrow that follow, knowing how inexplicably hellish that will be.

Matt Jencik, a musician who has played with Implodes, Don Caballero, and in Slint’s live band, reflected on that and the desperation he felt to hold onto his loved ones forever, no matter what it takes. “Never Die,” his new collaboration with Madeleine Johnston of Midwife, takes its name from that experience, the desire to try to hold onto everyone forever. The two make for a formidable and effective pairing, with hushed energy, unbuffed pulses, and a heartbeat that beats from side to side. It’s a record that haunts and brings you back to vulnerable spots that might remain sore, Jencik’s desire to extend live combined with Johnston’s willingness to embrace the void.

“Delete Key” starts with murky synth and Johnston’s hushed, unmistakable voice, immersively floating beyond this world. Sounds cut through, and the feeling of nighttime loneliness takes over and sinks. “Don’t Protest (Too Much)” starts with beats and scuffed guitar, both singing (Johnston more in a whisper). The pace plods and numbs, taking on an emotional bend, the chorus basking in starlight and meting into the dark. “Flower Dragon” has guitars charging but not overwhelming, Johnson’s voice taking on a gentleness and vulnerability. The playing is hypnotic, the singing gliding as guitars drizzle, the dusk emerging and enveloping. “The Last Night” has synth unfolding and a gray hue passing, Jencik speaks as Johnston sings, and the elements continue to trade off as the reflective state builds. The pair ruminate over fading memories, layered vocals baking, synth lapping up the final drops. “Bend” feels strategically named as that’s what it feels like your brain is doing as guitars boil and drone, the singing soothing as sounds warp. The melodies sweep past stardust, swelling and picking up muted colors that wash away.

The title track has guitars chiming and dreamy singing, beats echoing as a whirry haze thickens. Sounds buzz as a simple, yet desperate refrain rains down, blending into ethereal calm. “Only Death Is Real” feels wintry, synth glistening, the singing surrounding, the chorus taking control. Guitars buzz as the sounds quiver, a reflective aura passing through detached night thoughts that finally release their grip. “Organ Delay” starts with cosmic synth, a breeze picking up and spreading pillowy playing, giving room the land. The immersion continues as your cells radiate, a magical feel working its way down your spine. “September Goths” pumps fog as the beats numb, Johnston singing and bringing with her a strange softness. Keys whir as the drums drive, taking on a more upbeat path that mixes with a bassline that twists arms. Closer “Rickety Ride” has beats clashing, guitars coating, Jencik recalling memories as slide guitar aches (he mentions Pegasus and Cricket Lounge, two well-known places in Pittsburgh, from which he originally hails) . Johnston sings as Jencik recites past events, keys bubble and turn into horror, and the power slowly faces away.

Jencik and Johnston capture darkness, pain, and desperation on “Never Die,” a collaborative effort that lets each artists’ elements come to the forefront. Jencik’s anxiety over loss combined with Johnston’s willingness to navigate such dark waters makes for an experience that can feels all kinds of different ways to various audiences. It’s a torch in the darknerss, a longing during the long night, and a way to bridge one reality to another, no matter how painful that might be in the end.    

For more on Matt Jencik, go here: https://mattjencik.bandcamp.com/

For more on Midwife, go here: https://heavenmetal.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.relapse.com/pages/matt-jencik-midwife-never-die

For more on the label, go here: https://www.relapse.com/