Malojian ‘The Great Decline’

Olivia here. For the first time in what seems like ages the sun is beating down on London today. The Killing Moon team are reunited once more in the office, and there is a cautious feeling of optimism around the room. Maybe because 2016, the utter shit of a year can finally be buried, put to rest alongside our awkward emo phases and misjudged fashion choices of years gone by (2006 I’m looking at you). This year, more than any in recent memory, has been personified beyond belief – it was a bad apple, it was a year that was out to get us and our most cherished artists and celebrities. Lock up your nan, your dog, and do not under any circumstances let David Attenborough outside. There’s no denying that 2016 was a shocker in terms of high profile deaths and overseas violence, but with the benefit of hindsight it’s clear that we have a lot to celebrate. For the first time in years the giant panda is no longer endangered, and tiger numbers have risen for the first time in a century. New advances have been made in detecting cancer and in treating AIDS. Danny Dyer turned out to be royalty. In the grand scheme of things, 2016 was a relatively good year for the human race – compared to say, the peak of The Black Plague in 1348 or 1492, when Christopher Columbus ruined The Americas for everyone living there by ‘discovering’ it. Before Christmas I wrote about the feeling of ‘happysad’, and it is that emotion that dominated 2016 for me. Whilst in this reflective mood, there is nothing better to listen to than the latest EP ‘ This Is Nowhere‘ from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Stevie Scullion under the pseudonym Malojian, particularly the last track on the EP ‘The Great Decline‘. Pairing reflective vocals with simple instrumentation, Scullion manages to create something that is monumentally emotional. Paired back strings and gentle vocal harmony only emphasise the happysad mood of this track, in what is a study in restraint and elegant songwriting. Perfect for fans of Perfume Genius, and for those wanting to reflect after a busy holiday period.