CACTI by Billy Nomates / Tor
Recorded at her flat and Invada Studios, CACTI is a huge step up for the artist, who received widespread critical acclaim for her eponymous 2020 debut album, with heavy airplay across BBC Radio 6 Music and support from luminaries such as Iggy Pop, Florence Welsh and Steve Albini.
Though every bit as unrepentant as Billy Nomates’ debut, CACTI comes from a much more exposed place and sees Tor further develop her instinctive, inventive songwriting and production. Unafraid to wade into the traumas of the past two years and the eerie sense of apathy that lingers, alongside heartache and more political themes, the 12-track collection openly confronts uncomfortable truths, as Tor puts it, "70-80% of being bold is about being vulnerable as hell."
Maries said: “Writing CACTI took just over a year. I wrote very intensely and then none at all. (This seems to be the way I work best). I picked up old drum machines, mapped out things in my kitchen with the same small micro keyboard I always use and then raided the cupboards and rooms at Invada Studios, to play and experiment with old synths, an upright piano, this weird organ thing. I hope everyone finds their own narrative in CACTI. I think it's about surviving it all.”
‘CACTI’ features ‘blue bones’ and ‘balance is gone’ , both of which have been playlisted at BBC 6Music
Tracklist
| 1. | balance is gone | 3:34 |
| 2. | black curtains in the bag | 3:28 |
| 3. | blue bones (deathwish) | 3:18 |
| 4. | CACTI | 4:00 |
| 5. | saboteur forcefield | 3:52 |
| 6. | roundabout sadness | 2:00 |
| 7. | spite | 3:44 |
| 8. | fawner | 4:08 |
| 9. | same gun | 2:33 |
| 10. | vertigo | 2:45 |
| 11. | apathy is wild | 3:06 |
| 12. | blackout signal | 4:18 |
Credits
songs and words written by tor maries
produced by tor maries and james trevascus
instruments and programming by tor maries
tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 11 bass by billy fuller
track 6 cymbals by geoff barrow
recorded and mixed by james trevascus
mastered by shawn joseph at optimum mastering
vinyl cut by rhys crouch at optimum mastering
recorded at invada studios and tor’s flat
sleeve design by tor maries and marc bessant
photography by eddie whelan
photographer’s assistants marco torri and oliver shipton
styling by silvia arsenie
make up by brigsy smart
hair by pål berdahl
thanks to gill linton and skylar kang at byronesque
thank you to everyone that has supported and stood by me
over the past few years.
geoff for the constant support and belief. and sarcasm.
james for believing in this record.
everyone at invada records.
claire herron williamson for everything.
iggy pop for being cool.
liz and dad for all your love and wisdom. x
