I first heard of the relatively unknown Australian cellist, vocalist, and composer Sister Ursuline when Dirge first mentioned her back in January. She has finally released her self-titled debut EP. Judging by the quality of the six tracks on offer here, she has more than earned her exposure to new audiences and will be picking up fans on every outlet.
Like many other cello-based acts, Sister Ursuline roots her music firmly in history – not just through her choice of instrument, but in both her fashion and the stories she tells within her songs. Her sound is less rock and more folk than many of her contemporaries, and the EP has a stripped, minimalist feel (her website proudly proclaims “all tracks guaranteed to be 100% unmastered”). Each song feels like a little historical story – “Cherhill White Horse (Dr. Alsop’s Dream),” for instance, tells the story of the real-life Dr. Alsop and the creation of the white-horse hill figure in Wiltshire, England, in the 1780s. Other tracks range through different time periods, from the UK to the USA, with ease.
The EP’s mood is set by introductory track “Somatic Fictions,” which presents an echoing, off-kilter tale recounting a woman’s “romantic” death, presumably from tuberculosis. Tales of madness, illness, obsession, and suffering fill the EP, putting me in mind of fellow stringed instrumentalist and chronicler of mental illness Emilie Autumn, minus Emilie’s industrial production. Heartbreaking stand-out track “Sister Ursuline” chronicles a nun succumbing to illness, imploring “I am well” over an increasingly manic, scissoring melodic line, contrasted with a majestic, soaring refrain that has been stuck in my head for days.
The EP is not all doom and gloom, however; final track “The Duke of Beaufort” retells the birth of badminton with an innuendo-laden, humorously sexualised delivery, perfectly satirising our Victorian ancestors fear that playing the sport could lead to sexual corruption and perversion.
Doubly impressive are the variety of sounds that Sister Ursuline has managed to coax from the cello and incorporate into her songs without any overt electronic manipulation or distortion. There is always something sinister throbbing away in the background, even on “Cher Ami” (the EP’s most melodic offering), while “In The East River” backs high-pitched squeals that sound almost like dolphin calls with a bouncing, picked bass line. The vocal styling, too, remains varied: sometimes dissonant and choral, sometimes spoken, and sometimes floating and harmonious.
For a first release, this is accomplished, heady stuff. Sister Ursuline has already proven herself to be not just an accomplished musician, but an excellent storyteller. The EP is available direct from the artist on CD – each copy hand-folded by Sister Ursuline herself – or can be checked out for free on SoundCloud. I for one will be keeping a close eye on her from now on. Being capable of crafting tracks this good with no backing and little budget, with a little support, she has the potential to create something phenomenal.
