natalia beylis: mermaids

A few years after her stand-out contribution to Touch Sensitive's Wacker That compilation and following a bunch of purple patch releases for Nyahh Records, TakuRoko, Fort Evil Fruit and Eiderdown Records, Natalia Beylis graces Touch Sensitive with a true landmark album for the label -- Mermaids. Recorded both at home in Leitrim and at neighbor Mat Warren's studio, Mermaids was inspired by two salvaged items: a CRB Elettronica Ancona - Model: Diamond 708 E electric keyboard from the local tip, and a photo taken by her father found in a pile of old family scraps. Smuggled home in the back of the van and ridded of the nine purple crayons lodged inside, the keyboard sounded perfect to Natalia. The striking image which would become the cover art features Natalia's mother and two friends during a dip in the ocean. After testing compositions and recordings for months on the rescued keys, the discovery of her father's image formed the final work. Much like the push and pull of the River Shannon, Natalia's own local swimming spot, Mermaids flow is both organic but unstoppable. Alongside the keyboard's glistening tone, field recordings from Natalia's expansive archive bring listeners back up for air; taking stops to check in with the chittering chickens and ducks of Athlone. In keeping with her back catalogue and extensive body of work, Mermaids exists within its own imagined universe. This is truly singular work that continues to underline Natalia as one of the finest underground artists of her time.