Years ago, when I was first introduced to the lush sound world of Jessica Collins aka Beru, I knew that what I was hearing was only a beginning. That album, What Would I Do Without You, was an invitation inside. Ever since I took that plunge, I’ve been trapped and I don’t ever want to leave.

Collins followed it up with her first Digitalis release, Daughter of Eve, and brings things full-circle with her magnum opus, Fire Eyes Gather Souls. If the aforementioned albums were only an inkling, this is Collins’ vision fully-realized. Her music always breaks my heart. As her voice hovers over everything like an omnipresent spectre, fractured instrumental waves crash into each other in every possible combination. Whether it’s a drum machine pounding you in the face or electric guitars ablaze by the distorted trappings of long-forgotten idols, Beru never rests. Collins voice is at its strongest as she longingly sings “You are my whold world…” wrapped in a bed of violins and strangely-hypnotic vocal loops. It’s all perfectly puncuated with metal-infused guitar stabs that do their best to bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. Music like this takes ages to perfect, but Beru has reached that point of no return.

Fire Eyes Gather Souls is a magical ride to another world. Jessica Collins has become an absolute force. Edition of 70.

This tape is now sold-out but available soon available from Discriminate and Meditations.