B-Side Guys

In the shadowy realms of shoegaze, where distortion meets introspection, House of Warmth’s “Genderbent,” featuring Kaitlin Bell, emerges as a dark tapestry woven with threads of existential thought and sonic experimentation. Recorded in the depths of Portland, Oregon’s original House of Warmth during the eerie silence of 2021, this album serves as a vessel for exploring the tempestuous waters of early pandemic life, the fluidity of gender and sexuality, and the haunting specters of isolation and mental health struggles.

The essence of “Genderbent” lies not just in its thematic boldness but in the raw, unfiltered process of its creation. Utilizing a Tascam 424mkII cassette recorder, the duo embarked on a journey to capture a sound that was as genuine as their lived experiences. The result is a rich, tape-saturated soundscape that embraces the “wall of sound” ethos with fuzzed-out guitars and a rhythm section that feels both blown out and intimately personal.

Kaitlin Bell’s contribution to the album is pivotal, bringing a duality of perspective that enriches the narrative depth of “Genderbent.” The songs, born from shared sickness and introspective solidarity, navigate the murky waters of identity, challenging societal norms and the suffocating constraints of traditional gender roles. The album’s title track, “Genderbent,” is a manifesto of sorts, declaring gender as a construct of the mind rather than a binary dictated by physicality.

“Genderbent is an album we wrote while sharing a sick bed. Genderbent is an album we wrote the year we traded bodies. Genderbent is an album we wrote inside a hole.”

The track’s lyrics, a raw outpouring of frustration and defiance, challenge the listener to reconsider their perceptions of gender and identity. With lines like “gender is not a line, it’s something in my mind,” the song becomes a rallying cry for change, for the acceptance of fluidity over fixed labels, and for the safety and autonomy of individuals irrespective of their gender presentation.

Musically, “Genderbent” stands out for its innovative approach to the shoegaze genre. The spidery riffs and soaring vocals, layered with meticulous care, create an ethereal quality that contrasts with the gritty foundation of the album. The decision to bounce tracks into a DAW for finer control over the sound allowed for a blending of voices that feels both haunting and harmonious, a reflection of the album’s core themes.

The album’s production journey, from the lo-fi charm of cassette recordings to the polished sheen of professional studio mixing and mastering, mirrors the personal transformations explored in its tracks. The involvement of Brack Cantrell and Corey Coffman in the album’s final stages added layers of sonic clarity and depth, anchoring the sometimes-fragmented cassette soundscapes with high-fidelity brilliance.

“Genderbent” by House of Warmth, featuring Kaitlin Bell, is not just an album; it’s a sonic exploration of the space between societal expectations and personal truth. It challenges listeners to step into the caverns of their own identities, to question, to understand, and ultimately, to embrace the fluid nature of self. In the end, “Genderbent” stands as a testament to the power of music as a medium for dialogue, discovery, and dissent in the face of a world that often demands conformity.