Matt Jencik & Midwife : Never Die
Death is inevitable. While every religion and spiritual practice has its own version of an afterlife, that entryway to the beyond doesn’t always take away the pain that comes when a loved one passes. As far as this earthly coil is concerned, when a loved one dies, that’s it—you’ll never have a chance to eat, laugh, or listen to music together again. This inventible loss thus raises an important question: How do we confront this pain?
On Never Die, Madeline Johnston, aka Midwife, and Matt Jencik (Implodes, Don Caballero, Slint’s live band) explore this haunting conundrum. Jencik serves as the album’s primary songwriter, with Johnston contributing her voice, some keyboard and guitar work, as well as taking on the role of engineer. Jencik, like Midwife, demonstrates a remarkable talent for crafting slow-churning compositions defined by melodic droning and distortion. The duo’s vocal performances and instrumentation—primarily guitars, synthesizers, and drums—prove to be a perfect match for one another. The two present an immersive presentation of ambient pop equally melancholic and enchanting.
From the opening of “Delete Key,” this atmospheric presence remains consistent throughout the record’s runtime. There’s a tension to Jencik’s drone, straddling an aesthetic between dense and airy, a duality that reappears throughout the album. That droning intensity continues into “Don’t Protest (Too Much),” “Flower Dragon,” and later tracks like “Organ Delay,” but what prevents these songs from feeling monotonous is the duo’s knack for melody. Whether the melody drones or is playfully scattered, Jencik and Johnston’s compositions allow for subtle dynamics. It’s an ironic case of a minimalist approach providing a more commanding presence. Adding to this intriguing complexity is Johnston’s voice, the serenity of which enriches the gentle darkness of these songs.
The steady drum beat of “September Goths” offers a unique edge within the duo’s ethereal aesthetic; it won’t get you raging, but the added groove brings a refreshing playfulness. Jencik and Johnston leverage their versatility within a slowcore sounds to present an array of soundscapes, dipping their toes into dream-pop and noise rock. This variety is a powerful quality that ensures a refreshing sound throughout Never Die.
Jencik and Johnston understand the the heaviness of grief, and through the hazy, droning melodies of Never Die, they offer a profound reminder: You can choose denial and try to outrun death, or you can be present—you can live.
Label: Relapse
Year: 2025
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Matt Jencik & Midwife : Never Die
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