In / Verse by Melinda Bronstein

"It's actually been very emotional hearing all this," Melinda Bronstein writes. She's just sent me the responses to a questionnaire we've sent out to the rarified cohort of remixers who've contributed to In / Verse, a collection of remixes rooted in tracks from her 2021 debut, In Reverse. "It's an In Reverse funeral… a beautiful obituary!"

That might be a good place to start – with a funeral. Or I guess it doesn't have to be a funeral. Any kind of transitory space would work. Or any celebration of transitioning. Any border space, even. See, for me, the mysterious, looping, vocal compositions that make up In Reverse are fundamentally liminal, existing in a perpetual state of in-between-ness. They are the edge of the copse, the break in the faerie circle. Portals. Each feels like an incantation, balanced just so between song and not-song. Which, of course, makes it perfect fodder for the remixer, a perfect candidate for the remix album.

"It started with Matt Ashton from The Leaf Library saying he would love to remix 'Dream / Death', if I'd ever do anything like that. I'd not really thought about it before as it was strange offering out my tracks, assuming anyone would care," Melinda writes. "I then mentioned it to my good friend Mike Lindsay, who was well up for it. That made two tracks – it was rolling!" Cornerstones set, over the next couple of years Melinda reached out to more artists-slash-remixers when the time was right, looking to her home turf in and around Margate and beyond.

Whitstable local, artist, and Thanet Tape Centre founder Benedict Drew delivers his characteristically kaleidoscopic 'LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE' - a collision of In Reverse originals 'Love / Anyone' & 'Make / Love' – featuring whorls of improvised guitar, effects, and wind instruments. Elsewhere, Metro Detroit artist, curator, and co-founder of the Metaphysical Powers label (who co-released In Reverse) Kristen Gallerneaux delivers her own take on 'Make / Love', a moody and methodical lurk through time-stretched, layered, and fragmented vox; bowed guitar and processed field recordings and bass-bin low end.

Realising that "Supernormal Festival played a big part in [her] musical journey," Melinda ensured that the longstanding and steadfastly independent fest would have an equal impact on the tracklisting of In / Verse. "A’Bear, Blanc Sceol, and Lou Barnell have all been anchors for me at the festival," she continues, "and these connections have grown into full-blown friendship and admiration." Delivering their own left-of-centre takes on 'Something / Lost', 'Taking / You', and ‘In / Reverse', respectively, this trio of remixers embodies the wild, vast idiosyncrasy that makes Supernormal so enduring, endearing, and vital.

"Vital" - that's an adjective not often applied to remix records. There's this thing that often happens with them, where they function as a sort of audio purgatory - a sonic limbo - the tracks skulking an interminable bardo waiting to be something again. Despite what the liners would have you believe, the sound they make is unowned. Unclaimed by namesake artist and remixer alike, they drift pointlessly, lacking essence. How could they be essential? These remixes, though? They feel reborn, claimed wholeheartedly. New things built on a foundation of mutual respect. New paths charted by trust. The remixed tracks here take Melinda Bronstein and her comrades to places they'd not have gone alone. Now that's something. Vital even.

Bernie Brooks, August 2025

Melancholy atmospheres / vocal drone loops / casiotone, noises and toyses / magic in the mundane.

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