I watched the video for “Morning Star” on Youtube in June and initially I didn’t quite know how I felt about it, but I knew I wanted to watch it again. The video has over 150,000 views and I might be responsible for a large portion of that.

I was excited for the record and I never really ever feel that way about doom shit but her interpretation and execution is next level.

Celestial Blues, a perfect title, was released on July 30th, on Relapse Records, and I imagine King Woman’s second studio album would make majority of the 2021 AOTY lists, and rightfully so. It was my favorite release.

I grabbed my copy, the Blood Red vinyl, from Vinyl Fantasy in Bushwick, and it’s been in heavy rotation since.

Celestial Blues is just that, it is a mood in its own right, on a massive scale. A spellbinding 40 minutes and 52 seconds. A sonic exorcism, sexy, heavy and reeling from pangs of betrayal and heartache. An enchanting composition.

Kris Esfandiari, the woman behind the project and a laundry list of others, has made me want to dust off my degree and revisit Milton’s Paradise Lost.

I love the confidence that Kris embodies, the punk mentality of I’m going to do whatever the fuck I want, don’t ease up, keep doing whatever the fuck you want. Please. It’s working. Now, it’s your turn.