"Into the Vessel" is the newest recording from Cincinnati singer/songwriter Molly Sullivan.
The tune drives on a simple rhythm layered with unnervingly beautiful vocals, simultaneously dangerous and inviting. It sounds like a funeral dirge with its somber foundation, but unfurls into a dramatically effective choral high note, like sunbathing in a cemetery.
Fans of her work have heard "Into the Vessel" before, but as a barebones acoustic piece on the artist's self-recorded 2013 album "Winter '13." The new iteration was recorded, mixed and mastered by Alessandro Corona (a popular percussionist and audiophile known for his daily list of area events, "Now That's Cincinnati," on Facebook). The polished audio demands an intimate listen with some quality headphones to fully appreciate Corona's work.
A seasoned performer, Sullivan's best work is arguably her poetic lyrics, which on this tune are brilliantly creepy: "There I left you/Tucked in the backseat/Blistered and naked/On ice with bare feet/Heaven forgive my hands/I've robbed us both blind/And without asking."
"Into the Vessel" is a showcase of some of Cincinnati's top musical minds, including Kate Wakefield of Lung (cello, vocals), Josiah Wolf of WHY? (percussion) and Ben Pitz (trumpet), plus additional vocals from Brianna Kelly, Jess Lamb and Sara Hutchinson.
Listen to the track for the first time below.
Molly Sullivan was awarded "Best Singer/Songwriter" at the 2014 and 2015 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards and her music video for "Before" won "Best Music Video" in 2016. "Vessel" is her first new release since last year's single "Blue."
Sullivan will be performing with Hynterlands, Lamb and Warren Harrison's new "Gospel-Industrial" project, for a free show at MOTR Pub at 10 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 13.
For more on Molly Sullivan, visit facebook.com/mollysullivanmusic and her Bandcamp page here.
