‘Tiny Moth’, the new release by Doug Rimington, is a personal and expressive statement that pounds hard on both sonic and thematic levels. Inspired by the adventures of a rescued cat and a fascination with valve amps, the EP was ignited once Doug linked up with singer and voice-over artist Jess Lambert. After hearing Jess’ vocals for the first time, the seed of creativity grew fast to become the full-blown record. Constructed from real amps and analogue pedals, ‘Tiny Moth’ is inescapably human in a way that software and plug-ins have a hard time replicating. Honesty is in the grooves from the very first notes. This one feels like it was created in a quiet room but was never meant to be played quietly.
The opening track “Look At Me” is aggressive and gripping, with Jess’ vocals alternating between purring and snarling effortlessly. The razor-sharp riffs, bigger-than-life tones, and punchy drums push the visceral emotion behind the lyrics to even greater weight. “Break Down The Walls” hits even harder with the urgency of someone clawing their way through. The feeling of personal turmoil and being trapped is omnipresent, with Jess’ voice taking the reins and drenching every word with feeling and passion. “Your Rage” is sharper, darker, and heavier than its predecessors, brimming with the volatile energy of a storm about to hit. The lyrics are both expressive and intensely personal. Jess takes the mic with equal amounts of desperation and intensity. After the storm, there is the “Interlude”, a short instrumental break which serves the record well. Spacey, sparse, and soothing, it’s a nice breather and allows you to catch your breath before the finale.
The EP is concluded with the title track “Tiny Moth” that wraps everything together and leaves us with an extended catharsis. The track is slow-building and chugs along, gathering momentum and multiple layers of instruments to a powerful crescendo in the closing minutes. It’s the most immediate and affecting of them all, with the vocals and instruments moving in a way that feels most natural. Weight, release, and an eerie kind of beauty in the madness. There’s a lot to take in from this EP, and ‘Tiny Moth’ says a lot despite its brevity. It’s a feelingful record, strong all around, and purposeful. It all sounds like it was made with care and attention to detail—which is exactly what makes it special.
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