Midwife
No Depression in Heaven
THE FLENSER
Try counting the number of albums that Madeline Johnston has released over the past decade under such monikers as Midwife (alone or in collaboration with other songwriters), Mariposa, and Sister Grotto, and your head will probably spin Beetlejuice-style. The multi-instrumentalist’s praiseworthy prolificacy can be deemed impressive, enviable, or maddening, depending on the personality of who you’re asking. But with No Depression in Heaven, it might finally be time to put to rest the discussion of how much material Johnston is capable of releasing and focus on what she truly is: a verifiable talent who doesn’t have to prove her artistic bonafides to anybody. At least, that’s the conclusion one reaches after consuming her latest release. It’s difficult to put into words how sublime and supreme the new Midwife record is. But since you’re reading words, and I’m writing words, let’s give it a go, shall we?
No Depression in Heaven is purported to be a record about “dreams, memory, and fantasy.” And while that hypothesis may hold true, an even more overarching, tangible, empowering, and uplifting theme serves as the backbone of Midwife’s fourth solo full-length: Johnston’s realization, after crafting so many songs and records, that she knows who she truly is. On the second song, “Autoluminescent,” she sings: “I am white heat / I am heaven-sent / I was a nightmare / But I'm not gonna go there… I'm bigger than Jesus Christ / I'm greater than God in light.” If you’re hung up on the “bigger than Jesus” lyric, do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with John Lennon. Like the greatest Beatle, Johnston—by persevering and pushing her creative potential to the maximum—has reached a state of enlightenment. And, conciliatory as she is, Johnston welcomes her audience to get a sense, if only through osmosis, of what that feels like.
A year ago, Johnston shared with me how much it meant to her to be part of a community, specifically the “weird” collection of bands culled by The Flenser—a bold and daring record label that’s amassed a cult following over the past 15 years. It’s equally reassuring that Johnston has—after countless hours of artistic exploration—arrived at a place where she’s comfortable with her own self. The narrative in No Depression in Heaven is ostensibly about a road trip, but Johnston’s self-discovery along the way makes the record worth cherishing even more.
