With vocals in Spanish, "House of Women"’s first three tracks explore different stages of self discipline, ambition, and betrayal. From the opening track’s trance infused stomp, about a woman who uses self imposed cruelty as a defence against a more hostile world, to "Maldita"’s reggaeton/flamenco/metal pummelling, demonstrating the consequences of manic ambition - aggressive guitars and incisive lyrics colour the unrelenting feminine experience of constant self ‘improvement’. The EP’s third track "Ingenua", employs a pop structure with traditional latin percussive elements and acoustic guitars. This is meant as a final attempt of survival for the overworked and under-appreciated femme. To give into the superficial, and to pretend that to be a sex object is fulfilling enough.

The final title track, a 9-minute elegy in three parts, begins with the words, "She grew up in a house of women. What did you expect? She's a manipulator... lying little bitch. Don't you just hate her?"

Driven by guitar feedback, noise and interlacing vocal lines, "House of Women" laments our inability to escape ourselves. With each previous track on the EP representing an element of the self unable to escape the whole, this conclusion offers a journey to caustic self acceptance.

Lash uses Federico García Lorca's La Casa de Bernarda Alba as an inspiration; creating a framework in which the self is a home, inhabited by multiple personas and egos. Each angling for power and security from one another, as well as from an increasingly volatile external world. An inspection on the pressures of femininity may not be new - but the increasing necessity of image to promote oneself and be heard creates both a sense of disgust, and ultimately betrayal, by giving into the demand. Splintering rather than unifying the self. This is an expansion on the groundwork made by previous femme auteurs.

Released September 30, 2022

Lyrics by FVL
Music by Andrew Alain, Asaël Robitaille and FVL
Except “House of Women”: Music by Andrew Alain, Asaël Robitaille, FVL and Jesse Osborne-Lanthier
Produced by Asaël Robitaille and Jesse Osborne-Lanthier
Additional production on “Maldita” by Pierre Guerineau
Mastering by Jesse Osborne-Lanthier

Lash:
FVL: lead and back vocals, choir (3)
Andrew Alain: electronics
Asaël Robitaille: guitar, bass (4), keys and electronics

Guests:
Ruben Vázquez Alonso: percussions (1,3)
Javier Garcia Arellano: bass (3)
Jesse Osborne-Lanthier: electronics (1-4) surdo and drums (4)
Mariah Andrews: choir (4)
Nick Rony: modular synthesiser (2)
Alexita: choir (3)
Koko: choir (3)
Khan: choir (3)
Yair Elazar Glotman: double bass (4)

Photo by Samantha Blake @samblakesam
Photography Art Direction by Kate Struthers @ratsrocco
Hair by Glammy Lee @glammylee
Artwork, Design and Layout by Jesse Osborne-Lanthier