As far as genres go, “poemcore” probably has more going for it than “Simpson’s Wave” or whatever YouTube trickery gets written up online, but don’t see any trend pieces being written up about it. Owtn., back after a brief hiatus, makes some of the more absorbing songs in this style — which, as the name hints at, relies on a poetic delivery bordering on the spoken word — and “China Marble” is a good entry point. Over a woozy backdrop, she delivers lines in a near whisper, the music itself fading into a dusty form at times, giving “China Marble” an out-of-time feel. And just as critical as her words and the music is the silence…parts of this are very sparse, and help build up tension. Listen above.
