Today, I learned that Lauren Bousfield has a Patreon. Time to yell about how amazing/scary/gorgeous/well-executed her music is, and how much it means to me.

tl;dr version: her music will make you feel like an unstoppable dragon. https://www.patreon.com/laurenbousfield/overview

First off, disclaimer: Bousfield's music sounds like trauma in the ear, and from what I understand from articles and interviews with her, much of it *is* rooted in actual trauma. Her music sometimes deals with frightening content, and so it sometimes sounds frightening. YMMV. 2/

Let's start with "Sprawling Idiot Effigy"!
From LB's project Nero's Day at Disneyland, this is the song that made me fall in love. It samples a brutal horror-folk song called Diana by Comus, and is peak NDAD sampling goodness. 3/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/swarming-idiot-effigy

Next, "In Aisles"!
A perfect old-school example of how NDAD takes a scrap of music that is already classically pretty, then twists it, puts it through a meat grinder, and makes it 10x prettier, and 100x more powerful. 4/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/in-aisles 

I could go on for days about this album (From Rotting Fantasylands). From the tracks to the cover art to the title to the band name, it all builds this terrifying pulpy vision of something that used to be friendly, but is now distorted and kinda dangerous. 5/

The first time I fired up her next album, Locked Into Phantasy, I was immediately yelling. Suddenly there was all this MIGHTY ENERGY, but distilled and pointy and sometimes even delicate. Every track's a banger. 6/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/the-ropes-our-nights-were-laid-across-pulled-taut

It's strongest in her earlier stuff, but LB's music often sounds "circusy." Some circus songs are called "screamers" because they're rapid-fire, dynamic and they get folks HYPED. B's music does the same thing, but even screamy-er, and full of teeth. 7/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/locked-into-phantasy

Oh gosh, oh jeez.
"Two Swans" is one of my favourite songs from ANY artist. Just pure beautiful brightly-lit peril.

Also, it's technically a waltz! Lauren Bousfield = razorwire ballroom tunes. 8/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/two-swans-duct-taped-to-the-side-of-the-coke-machine

If Phantasy sharpened the danger!feelings to a knifepoint, Avalon Vales gave the feelings six pairs of wings and sent it GALLOPING around the sky like some kind of wonderful eldritch pegasus.

(Psst I think this song is about the Red Wedding??) 9/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/riverrun-humbling-allegory

Name your favourite dancefloor-ready Nirvana remix.
What's that? You don't have one?
Weird.
Here, take mine. 10/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/avalon-sliding-down-the-cliff

The emotional/stylistic range on Avalon Vales is a JOY, and it's all filtered through this shimmery church choir vocal lens. This track in particular is almost...tender? Sort of? It's always felt like a love song to me. 11/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/cascading-retail-spaces

Last, but not least. A Very Big YouTuber used this track as his channel's outro theme back in 2014/15. I don't know if LB was ever credited, or gave permission for uncredited use, but I think it's more or less ingrained in that channel's older fans. 12/ https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/track/child-protective-services-theme-song

I'm barely scratching the surface here. There are many other gorgeous pieces that I'm not directly linking, because they seem deeply personal to LB and shouting about them to internet strangers feels weird.

The point is, these songs are traumatic, but they are also POWERFUL 13/

That's why they mean so much to me. LB makes you feel like a dragon. When someone's creeping on me on an empty train car, I blast "Somerset Blather on and On" and feel safer. When I'm afraid, songs like "Civilizing People" and "Little Half Dead Fire Exits Hi" make me brave. 14/

So, f e e l i n g s aside, pretty much every track is a well-made banger. And you can buy her entire discography for 50% off over at Bandcamp! You too can feel like a powerful eldritch being whom no mortal may touch! https://laurenbousfieldanyev3r.bandcamp.com/