Glass Eel’s Latest Album Showcases a Captivating Return to Creative Confidence
After taking some time away from her project Glass Eel, Alice Western has reconnected with her music, culminating in her latest release, “Amends.” This song marks a significant shift in Western’s approach and mindset, focusing on resetting, reconnecting, and regaining confidence in her musical instincts. She explains, “I’m really trying to no longer think about that and just trust my own musical instinct.”
During this period of re-engagement, Western decided to step away from the pressure she once felt to create louder, rock-inspired music. Instead, she found solace in returning to her roots of stripped-back, acoustic storytelling. Reflecting on her musical journey, she recalls, “I always felt this pressure to make my music really loud, more rocky. But my first musical experiences were playing in a pub with my best friend, and we would like to do acoustic covers and sing harmonies. That’s really, I think, where I feel really at home.”
Thematically, “Amends” delves into Western’s struggle to break free from mental loops that often hinder her creative process. Living with OCD, she grapples with the tendency to ruminate and seek certainty in her work. The track serves as a representation of this internal conflict, taking listeners on a journey through Western’s intricately woven thoughts and emotions.
In crafting “Amends,” Western aimed to explore a psychedelic rock sound, a departure from her previous release, “The Line.” She envisions the track as a surreal march of cartoon animals through a mystical forest, aiming to create a magical and otherworldly atmosphere. Drawing on her background as a sound engineer, Western collaborated with producers Margot Broom (Man/Woman/Chainsaw) and Seth Evans to layer sounds and textures, incorporating instruments like the shruti box, Hammond organ, and flutes to enhance the song’s sonic landscape. She explains, “I like that kind of mixture of background and foreground, how you build almost like a world by thinking about that detail of what the person’s being immersed in as they’re listening.”
Western draws inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences, including Aldous Harding, Joni Mitchell, and the legendary Bob Dylan. Her deep admiration for Dylan’s work is evident, with posters of the iconic musician adorning her teenage bedroom walls. While her folk roots are clearly present in her music, “Amends” represents a departure into a more transcendent realm, offering listeners a glimpse into the enchanting world of Glass Eel.