After I wrote my last thing on Heartworms, I thought I had a handle on her style: danceable-but-gloomy post-punk with a weird war fetish. I loved it1.
Turns out I was way wrong. Jojo Orme has much broader talent and ambition. The first listen of Glutton for Punishment had plenty of surprises. So did the eighth and twelfth.
“Jacked” was the first single, released back way back in June, which is likely feels more consistent with “May I Comply” than with some of the other songs on Glutton for Punishment. It’s darker and slicker, with vocal effects and a tension-filled arpeggio, and a chaotic, noisy climax. It’s not the only song that feels at home with Heartworms’ prior stuff, but that sound doesn’t dominate the record as I’d expected.
There’s a run of three tracks in the middle of this record that shows surprising range: “Extraordinary Wings” (at the top of the post) is a Twin-Peaks style slow-burner with video-game percussion, Orme’s voice delicate and thin until she lets loose during the noisy climax. “Warplane” is a barnburner that would be at home in a John Le Carré film adaptation, with a propulsive bass line, strings and a choral accompaniment. It’s followed by the “Celebrate”, a synthy and melodic song where Orme goes diva. It’s the closest I think she’s ever come to a proper pop song, but still distinctively Heartworms:
The last two tracks on the record, “Smugglers Adventure” and “Glutton for Punishment” are just as surprising, evoking Nine Inch Nails balladry and stage musicals, respectively.
Glutton for Punishment is still instantly recognizable as a Heartworms record, but it reaches for different levers than what we’ve heard from Orme so far. The record was produced by Dan Carey, who knows how to sharpen an artist’s edge, and Orme has a ton of edge.
Heartworms has been releasing music for almost 3 years now. By that stage, most artists are pretty much a known entity. That’s not the case here: Orme is still pushing her own boundaries, establishing her range and ambitions. Glutton for Punishment is a daring and absolutely successful debut record.
I’ve listened to this record maybe more than any other one I’ve written about, and I’m still not sure I’m doing it justice. Glutton for Punishment is a nuanced, subtle record that needs repeat listens to fully grasp. It’s literary, theatrical and stunning.
Further Reading and Watching
Jojo Orme interview in Under the Radar
Live performance video that includes a few of the songs:
- my car broke down at the fucking worst place in Ontario while I heard ‘May I Comply” for the first time. Great song, will always be associated with the sheer terror of having the car fully turn off at 120 km/h.
