No ageing allowed! That is the message we women receive from practically the day we are born, and it has been emphasised recently by actresses who have undergone so many cosmetic procedures to become rejuvenated shadows of their former selves. This is a consequence of the industry, of patriarchy and of the male-imposed idea of eternal youth. And this is precisely what The Empty Page are talking about in ‘A Feminine Ending’, a title that doubles as a music theory term for an unresolved cadence, here rewritten as liberation.
The lyric shifts from the intimacy of the changing room to the predatory logic of the beauty press, through a damning list of clinical product names, which strip cosmetic medicine of its euphemisms. The line that hits hardest is the plainest: ‘They built an empire upon your self hate.’ By the time the song returns to ‘what a relief’, the phrase has lost all irony.
‘A Feminine Ending’ opens with post-punk-influenced guitars that lock in with steady drums, recalling the rhythmic minimalism of Savages while building an atmospheric tension that is almost enveloping, reminiscent of Sonic Youth. As Kel‘s voice enters, the sound shifts subtly towards a grunge-tinged alt-rock palette, fuzzy yet controlled, with the abrasion kept on a tight leash.
The tempo drifts rather than builds, sustaining tension without ever fully releasing it. Kel goes from a hushed, detached tone in the verses to a more fragile, pleading tone as the chorus repeats. The melody remains simple and almost hymn-like, giving the track a ceremonial and elegiac nature. This restraint allows the lyrical impact of lines such as ‘They built an empire upon your self-hate’ to land particularly heavily. The song evokes the quiet intensity of Hole or Veruca Salt, but takes it further by leaving tension and intimacy unresolved.
With this track, The Empty Page earns their place among the bands who make feminist politics feel urgent rather than decorative.
Upcoming Events:
- 3 May – Shropshire – Loopfest
- 20 May – Liverpool – Kazimier Stockroom (w/Charlie Houston)
- 26 Jul – Dorset – Alice’s Wicked Teaparty
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