Kira Roessler - Enigma

Kira Roessler is a living legend, of incalculable importance to the US underground so I was positively delighted resultantly to see her team up with the lovely folks over at Discipline for new full-length release Enigma.

Kira started her illustrious career in Twisted Roots with older brother Paul and ex-Germ Pat Smear, from there she teamed up with Hardcore godfathers Black Flag, recording some of that band’s most experimental and interesting work. She’d later collaborate with ex-husband Mike Watt (fIREHOSE, Minutemen) in Dos before finally putting out her solo debut release KIRA in 2021. She’s also built herself quite a career in the film/television industry, working on productions for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Mad Max: Fury Road and Game of Thrones. Therefore when she puts out a record, its a big deal (for folks like me).

‘Peas’ Reggae tinged Guitarwork and stoned grooves hint at HR (of Bad Brains fame) more laid back solo output. This is not at all what I was expecting but nonetheless it eases you in gently on what is an aurally satisfying opener. ‘How Could You’ has a 70’s Tom Waits feel with Vocals that aren’t as gravelly, though that was always going to be a big ask. There’s a spooky, horror tinge to the music too which makes the piece all that more intriguing. ‘Fluid Reset’ has a ‘Gothic’ sensibility with a little Dark Cabaret slipped in that has one thinking Gitane Demone and her collaboration with former Christian Death colleague Rozz Williams on 1995’s Dream Home Heartache, superb. ‘Jim’is surprisingly catchy, injecting a little Indie Rock cool to proceedings, the track’s quirky nature not overly dissimilar to The Breeders.

The Clash’s ‘Guns of Brixton’ comes to mind on ‘Truth’, the fluid effortless Bass playing evoking Paul Simonon with Reggae once more coming to the fore, whether intentional or not, meanwhile‘Collapse’ is Peepshow era Siouxsie and the Banshees when they were starting to incorporate a number of unlikely influences, think tracks like ‘Peek a Boo’ ; a far cry from an artist who once played on ‘Loose Nut’ and ‘My Ghetto’. ‘You Will Feel My Pain’ is soulful but one which feels genuinely heartfelt and authentic unlike the overhyped likes of Adele. ‘Drinking and Driving’ is a cover of the Flag classic, not the first time Roessler has covered that band as evidenced by her contributions to Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie: Reinterpreting Black Flag. She completely subverts the Hard-Rocking AC/DC infused original and gives it a breezy, cafe Jazz makeover, it could have featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Swingers. Now THIS is how covers should be done!‘Crossed Purpose’ is what Amy Winehouse could have produced after her debut Frank had she not teamed up with the charisma vacuum that is Mark Ronson for the mega selling Back to Black.

‘Whatever’ is sombre, a Post-Punk resignation ala Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds runs throughout the track’s running time and ‘Kill Him’ takes one down a film noir route such as has been undertakenmany a time by Barry Adamson, outstanding. ‘Wild Card’ is aptly named with its angular, unpredictable nature, its low-key Saccharine Trust, never a bad thing. ‘Crawling’ is Swans era Jarboe, haunting and ethereal in equal measure and ‘Enigma’ contains a Folky flourish but one that is more Marissa Nadler than Sandy Denny. The drama that’s created by the tense piano work keeps you on edge and concludes the record in a thrilling fashion.

Though minimalist in approach, Enigma offers more sonically and emotionally than the overproduced pap dominating the mainstream. Highly recommended.