Philadelphia and D.C. ensemble, Tadzio, release both a fanciful and somewhat nihilistic new track, “Ice Cream in Hell,” as we navigate our current landscape of dire uncertainty.
The dark tangled mess of our reality has birthed a purgatory like state where we’re all endeavoring to collect pieces of joy and tenderness. Eating an ice cream cone in hell is a futile effort to find joy, but it’s better than sitting in a black hole of your own anxiety. Lead vocals, Shaina Kapeluck described this single as being situated in the summer of social distancing and worsening climate change. Kapeluck also unfolds somewhat blurred narratives about a collapsing room and a heart riding a roller coaster.
Coupled with an animated blend of synth, strings, and various forms of percussion, Kapeluck gorgeously engulfs us in the flames of their hell. Her celestial voice situates us in a place where we feel compelled to listen. Whimsical synths breathe between her expansive vocals, similar to the work of indie pop singers Miya Folick or Angel Olsen.
The group showcases their experimental and malleable sound that feels almost like a message coming from a divine alien, both warning us and commiserating with us about the future of our planet.