#seismic wand

[7amcoffee]

Runescape Art of the character Dang, smug and posing with her Seismic Wand! by @sandraghart such a lovely and talented artist

[rs3outfits]

[writingbylee]

hi hello i think it’s time that i actually introduce all of my OCs? because i truly have so many and i never actually talk about half of them. so below you will find all my OCs! along with short bullet point explanations of their characters. if they have an OC sheet, that’ll be linked— as well as any fic i have posted about them. i’ve also included links to my vibes page (@vibesforlee) where i’ve got tags for each of my OCs.

Fandoms Below Include: Star Wars, A Song of Ice and Fire, Percy Jackson, Marvel, Chronicles of Narnia, Critical Role, Avatar The Last Airbender, and Top Gun: Maverick

so uhhhh yeah i hope this is helpful for at least my own brain but also anyone else who is interested!

dividers by: @saradika-graphics

banners by: me

Lyra Amidala Naberrie

General Knowledge

Younger sister of Padme Amidala

Jedi Healer during the Clone Wars

Served as Medic General of the 104th Legion, Chief Medical Officer of the 104th Company known as the “Wolfpack”, and as Medic General of the 501st Legion

Fic: @abandoned-by-destiny

Vibes

House of the Dragon

Aemma Velaryon Targaryen

General Knowledge

Firstborn child to Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, before Laenor’s premature death three years after the marriage

Older sister to Jacaerys Targaryen Strong, Lucerys Targaryen Strong, Joffrey Targaryen Strong, Viserys Targaryen Strong, and Visenya Targaryen Strong

Bonded to the dragon Vermithor

Vibes

Game of Thrones

Lyanna Stark

General Knowledge

Eldest child of Catelyn and Ned Stark (by approximately seven minutes)

Twin sister to Robb Stark; believed half-sister of Jon Snow; older sister to Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, and Rickon Stark

bonded to a red and brown direwolf called Scarlet Shadow

Fic: screaming from a crypt

oc blog: @princess-lyanna-stark

Vibes

Ceara Murphy

General Knowledge

daughter of Neptune and Emma Murphy, a legacy of Fortuna and daughter of Irish immigrants living in Portland, Oregon

inherited the power from her father to start earthquakes, and eventually manipulate seismic waves into concentrated blasts

brought down Mount Othrys after helping Jason Grace kill the Titan Krios

one of the demigods of the prophecy of Nine

Vibes

Emmalee Miller

General Knowledge

inherits the spirit and powers of the mythical Scarlet Witch when Wanda Maximoff is killed during her torture and experimentation at The Raft prison

is brought in by SHIELD after her powers emerge, and is initially assumed to be an Inhuman— and is therefore recruited by Daisy Johnson to join her Secret Warriors

Vibes

Edme Pevensie (female!Edmund Pevensie)

General Knowledge

Younger sister to Peter and Simon Pevensie, older sister to Lucy Pevensie

gains the power to manipulate ice and water after being stabbed with the shattered wand of The White Witch during The First Battle of Beruna

is crowned as High Queen Edme the Just, alongside her siblings; High King Peter the Magnificent, King Simon the Gentle, and Queen Lucy the Valiant

returns to Narnia twice after The Golden Age, both times to assist Prince, later King, Caspian the Tenth

Fic: A Reminder

Vibes

Campaign 1: Vox Machina

Alythea Vance

General Knowledge

Level 1 Druid/Level 11 Cleric (Death Domain) when hired by Vox Machina

is hired by Vox Machina to be their temporary healer/cleric during their mission to Whitestone, after Pike Trickfoot leaves on her vision quest

helps liberate the town of people of Whitestone, and returns to Vox Machina after the arrival of the Chroma Conclave in Emon

Vibes

Campaign 2: Mighty Nein

Kara Dean

General Knowledge

Level 7 Bard (College of Valor) when she meets the Mighty Nein

is Captain Avantika’s first mate/navigator when the Mighty Nein meet up with Avantika after stealing The Mist in Nicodranus

betrays Avantika and helps the Mighty Nein steal her journal

leaves The Revelry and Darktow with the Mighty Nein after The Plank King kills Avantika

Vibes

Xia Beifong

General Knowledge

Older sister to Toph Beifong, and heir apparent to the Beifong fortune

a nonbender who has trained extensively in swordplay

assists her younger sister in escaping, both to the fighting ring and to leave with the Avatar

in retaliation, is essentially sold by her father into marriage to the much older Earth King in Ba Sing Se

Vibes

Major Taylor Gardner

General Knowledge

28 year old Marine pilot

first Marine to ever be allowed to attend Top Gun, and the youngest female aviator to ever win Top Gun

callsign “Wasp”; due to the fifth generation fighter, colloquially called a Stinger, that she stole while escaping the uranium enrichment plant after being undercover there for several weeks obtaining vital intel

fic: Hangman and The Wasp

Vibes

[theblissfulstars]

Total Solar Eclipse: April 8th, 2024,

This Solar eclipse on April 8th 1:27 pm starting in the state of TX and ending in Main for the U.S packs quite a punch. Places and people where the eclipse is visible will be most impacted, and of course please check houses and personal planets on the axis of Aries and Libra to see where you will be most impacted.

This eclipse is all about initiation regarding major reform surrounding ideas of nationalism and homeplace with a Cancer rising. With Cancer ruling the uterine reproductive system, I wouldn't be surprised if a major theme surrounding reproductive rights was brought to head this eclipse, as well as major conflicts surrounding immigration, borders, and national identity. With the ruler of the ascendant being in Aries, we can expect explosions, harm and destruction to play a major role as well within the overarching theme of this eclipse.

This destructive energy is hoisted up in the 10th house for this eclipse showing that there's going to be a broadcasting of the gory details in a shocking and upsetting way. This eclipse is taking place with a hard conjunction to Chiron, illuminating our collective wounds surrounding war, destruction, and patriarchal ways of being. The aforementioned configuration is square Ceres in Capricorn denoting that this is going to be a time of mass end and brutal climax.

With the ruler of the 10th house and eclipse ruler in the 8th house in Pisces, along with the influence from Ceres, we can expect the reaper to come for major political figures in a jarring and showy way. With the sixth house Ceres placement, and even the eighth house influence, this could be a significant “self-reapping” of a prominent political figure or even a secret taking out of a figure.

Mars is conjunct Saturn by one degree in the 8th house in Pisces, showing that there is a karmic exposure of secrets surrounding shared resources. Pay close attention to taxes during this time particularly institutions that deal with our taxes, as their rear ends will be exposed. Similarly, religious institutions as well are also going to be exposed surrounding practices, ideologies and behind the scenes behavior that's going to create schism and redirection of funds. This is going to come as quite a shock to the world, with Jupiter being conjunct Uranus and the 10th house, it is going to cause a major impact on not only the economy,but the environment. With comet 12P swinging past earth during this time until June 2024 which it only does in its eccentric elliptical orbit every 71 years, we can expect seismic activity, vulcanism, unrest and the fall of empires, how so…medieval, no?

There's going to be a major standoff in the global legal system as well with Ceres square Mars and Saturn, especially regarding crimes done in the dark, under the guise of religion and surrounding death. On a less grand stage, the federal legal system is going to be going through reform and reconsideration. Pay very close attention in particular to legal proceedings surrounding Donald Trump during this time.

The energies of this eclipse are somewhat like the ten of swords, where you hit rock bottom and have no choice but to change. This definitely marks a major pivoting point and a point of diplomatic relations with Venus being in the ninth house conjunct Neptune. Divinity and Destiny is at play here and with the North node in the ninth house, I cannot stress this enough, Creator is involved in the world right now. Destiny has a heavy hand move wisely.

The cards I pulled for this eclipse are as follows: 9 of cups reversed, 5 of cups reversed, 10 of pentacles reversed, 9 of wands.

[bugmistake]

i've been feeling so deeply nonbinary in a way that i cannot possibly articulate. even with the gender vocabulary i have in my arsenal. like it feels. seismic. radioactive. like i need a geiger counter and 1 million ccs of testosterone cypionate to even begin to decipher it. and a hitachi magic wand.

[tagx01]

Impact of Generative AI in Real Estate Industry

Generative AI is sparking a revolution in the real estate sector, transforming how professionals approach property valuation, investment decisions, and customer interactions. As AI-driven Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) compete with traditional appraisal methods, mortgage lenders leverage AI for risk assessment, and developers gain insights into construction sites and zoning regulations, the industry is experiencing a seismic shift towards data-driven decision-making and enhanced customer experiences.

The maturation of Generative AI (gen AI) couldn't have come at a better time for real estate. With vast data repositories at their fingertips, investors and industry players can harness gen AI's capabilities to revolutionize tasks like identifying investment opportunities, designing properties, and creating tailored marketing campaigns. This convergence of data and AI is reshaping not just how real estate operates but also how it innovates and creates value for stakeholders.

While the potential of gen AI in real estate is immense, its adoption and implementation pose challenges. Many organizations are navigating the complexities of integrating gen AI into their workflows and strategies, seeking to unlock its promised value. This article delves into the transformative power of gen AI in real estate, explores practical use cases, and outlines key steps for companies to leverage gen AI effectively, paving the way for a tech-driven future in the real estate industry.

This image illustrates the evolution of real estate from a pre-AI era to a future enhanced by AI technology.

What is Generative AI in the Real Estate Industry?

In real estate, Generative AI is like having a creative genius on your team. It uses cutting-edge tech to craft content that's as good as what humans create. Imagine having 3D models of properties that look so real, you can almost walk through them before they're even built! Or picture virtual tours so immersive, potential buyers can explore every nook and cranny without leaving their homes.

Generative AI isn't just about creating content; it's about revolutionizing how we showcase and experience real estate. It's like having a magic wand that turns ideas into stunning visuals and engaging experiences, making the buying and selling process smoother and more exciting for everyone involved.

How Generative AI is Changing Real Estate

In the dynamic world of real estate, effective communication and creative presentation are key. However, constantly creating new content for each property and client interaction can be a daunting task. This is where generative AI (gen AI) comes in, offering a valuable tool to streamline your workflow and enhance your creative capabilities.

Gen AI functions as a smart assistant tailored to the needs of your real estate enterprise. It can analyze extensive data, decipher intricate trends, and produce innovative text formats. This brings tangible advantages to busy professionals, allowing them to focus on core tasks while leveraging AI for efficiency and innovation.

Benefits of AI in Real Estate

Enhanced Efficiency: AI streamlines real estate operations by automating repetitive tasks like data analysis, property valuation, and customer interactions. This efficiency boost saves time and resources, allowing professionals to focus on strategic decision-making and client relationships.

Improved Data Analysis: AI algorithms can process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing valuable insights into market trends, property values, and investment opportunities. This data-driven approach empowers real estate professionals to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

Personalized Customer Experiences: AI enables personalized interactions with clients by analyzing their preferences, browsing history, and behavior. This allows real estate agents to offer tailored recommendations, customized property listings, and seamless communication, enhancing overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Enhanced Property Marketing: AI-powered tools enhance property marketing strategies by creating dynamic content, virtual tours, and targeted advertising campaigns. These innovative approaches attract more potential buyers, increase property visibility, and facilitate faster transactions in a competitive market.

Predictive Analytics: AI enables predictive analytics in real estate, forecasting market trends, property demand, and pricing fluctuations. This predictive capability helps investors, developers, and agents make proactive decisions, mitigate risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities, leading to better investment outcomes and business success.

7 GenAI Use Cases in Real Estate

Automating Property Valuations: GenAI can analyze market data and property attributes to generate accurate valuations, saving time and reducing human error in the appraisal process.

Personalized Property Recommendations: By analyzing client preferences and behavior, GenAI can suggest properties tailored to individual needs, enhancing the customer experience and increasing satisfaction.

Virtual Property Tours: GenAI creates immersive virtual tours, allowing potential buyers to explore properties remotely in 3D, leading to more informed decisions and reducing the need for physical viewings.

Optimizing Marketing Content: GenAI generates compelling property descriptions and marketing materials from images and data, attracting more buyers and ensuring consistency across listings.

Predictive Analytics for Investments: GenAI analyzes market trends and property data to predict investment returns, helping investors make data-driven decisions and identify lucrative opportunities.

Automating Customer Support: AI-powered chatbots provide 24/7 customer support, answering inquiries and scheduling appointments, improving response times and customer satisfaction.

Enhanced Data Analysis: GenAI analyzes vast amounts of data to provide insights into market trends, buyer preferences, and property performance, empowering real estate professionals to make informed decisions.

Final Thought

In the dynamic landscape of the real estate industry, the convergence of generative AI marks a pivotal moment. It presents not just an opportunity but a necessity for companies aiming to stay ahead in a competitive market. The strategies discussed, when integrated with generative AI, pave the way for a future where efficiency, personalization, and data-driven insights drive success. With the right approach and technology, real estate companies can navigate challenges, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional experiences to clients and stakeholders alike.

At TagX, we're not just observers but active participants in shaping this transformative journey. Our expertise in generative AI development places us at the forefront of innovation, offering solutions that empower real estate professionals to unlock the full potential of AI. Whether it's AI-driven marketing tools, advanced analytics for investment decisions, or strategic guidance in embracing generative AI, we are dedicated to supporting companies in realizing their goals. Our commitment extends beyond technology; we strive to be a trusted partner, providing tailored solutions and empowering businesses to thrive in the era of AI-driven real estate.

[slamminslamminmcgill]

yk what part 2 actually i love this crazy eyed homo 😖

warning: slurs, humiliation/degradation, dick slapping

anatomical terms: pussy, (t-)dick/cock

God damn, he was good at this.

You had your hands on the back of his head, pushing his face into your pussy. His tongue twirled around your t-dick as he blew you. His head game was heavenly, rivaled by none. Lalo Salamanca was sucking your soul out.

Around maybe your 4th or 5th orgasm, Lalo finally took his lips off your cock and said, “Hey.” To make sure he had your full attention, he gave your dick a sharp slap.

“Oww! Nn-!”

“Shh, shh, shh, mírame, puppy, look at me… It’s okay…” He cooed ever so gently, cupping your face and stroking your cheek with your thumb. “It’s okay… You’re okay…”

You rubbed your eyes and blinked him back into focus. It took you a moment to process what you were looking at, but what you saw was something sinister. Something sadistic that shocked you to your core.

Lalo had grabbed the wand and had stuffed its head inside you, nestled perfectly against your g-spot.

And before you could even think to yourself, Jesus fucking Christ, Lalo flicked the switch, and he had you seeing visions of the Lord himself.

“FUCK!!!”, You cried out to the heavens. Yet the only one who could hear you, the only deity you had to answer to was Lalo.

“You ever fantasize about this, faggot?” He sneered as he fucked you with the seismic power of the wand. “Huh? You ever fuck yourself like this when I’m not around?”

“N-No! No, I n-never-“ He didn’t actually want to hear your answer, because he cut you off by sucking your cock back into his mouth.

“Ahh-h fuck, fuck! Lah! Lah-loh, Lalo, Lalo, iss too much! ‘S too much, I-” He clicked the power up...

“AH! F-Fuck! Lalo! I’m gonna come! I’m gonna-“ and up..

“OH! FUCK! OH! I’M! GONNA!”

and off.

Instead of a satisfying self-fulfilling squirt or two, the orgasm he’d given you was the sexual equivalent of the ol’ snake popping out of a can prank. You were stunned, devastated, and glared at him with a nonverbal message of, “The fuck, dude?”

“Tell me something else you were thinking about.”

Finally got my vibrator replaced and have now been thinking about Lalo walking in on reader masturbating. Feel like he'd just watch quietly in the doorway for a while before making himself known ("Having fun there?") then edge them while making them talk about everything they were thinking about, until he finally decided that reader's begging is sufficient and fulfills every fantasy tthey just shared.

in honor of the vibrators i got on sale for black friday 😌

anatomical terms: cunt/pussy, dick

“Having fun there?”

You were, up until Lalo’s voice snapped you out of your fantasy. You screamed and dropped your wand vibrator on the floor, failing to turn it off before doing so, which made it sound like your bedroom was built on billions of belligerent bees. That thing was LOUD. You wouldn’t have thought to pull it out unless Lalo was gone, which he was supposed to be for a few more hours.

“Y-You… You’re home- uh…” You struggled to save face, “How long have you been watching?”

“Couple minutes now,” Lalo strutted over to your discarded sex toy and shut it off, before taking it in his grip and slapping the silicone head against his palm. “Is this what you get up to when I’m not around?”

You blushed and tugged the blankets over your exposed body. It was nothing he hadn’t seen before, but you wanted at least some of your dignity spared. “Sometimes…”

“Aw, qué lindo… (how cute…) You just couldn’t wait for me, huh?” He ripped the blankets off your legs and pushed them apart. Then, he knelt between them and shoved the vibrator up to your aching, needy cunt. “What were you thinking about, chiquito?” He asked, not giving you time to answer before he reignited the toy.

“Ah!~ F-Fuck! Nn!” You whined, biting your lip and closing your eyes, letting yourself succumb to the overwhelming pleasure of the wand. It felt so much better in someone else’s hands.

“Mírame, puto. (Look at me, whore.)” Lalo grabbed you by one of your cherry-red cheeks and pulled your face up to his. His trademark psycho eyes bored into your soul. “Tell me what you were thinking about.”

You gasped for air in between hasty, rushed words. “I… I was…” Lalo turned the vibrator up, making your legs tremble and forcing out a cute little cry of “Ohh, fuck!” You reflexively closed your eyes again, popping them open when you felt his coke nails prick your skin. “I-I was thinking about u-us!”

“Yeah?” Lalo mocked, “What was I doing to you?”

“Y-You were-“ He clicked the button again, “Fuuuck! Y-You w-“ and again, “Oh my god! Y-You were s-su-“ and once more for good measure. Truth be told, you didn’t even know it could go that high. “Oh! F-Fuck! Lalo! I can’t! I can’t take it! I’m gonna cum!”

“No you’re not,” Lalo scoffed and turned the vibrator off, snuffing out the growing flame of your orgasm. “Not until you tell me what you were thinking about.”

Your abused body slumped back against the bed, sliding out of Lalo’s grasp. “I-… I was…” You panted, trying to force the words out, “I was thinking about you sucking my dick…”

“Good boy. Was that so hard?” Lalo chuckled and pulled the vibrator off your pussy. He licked your juices off the toy and dropped it beside you both on the bed. Then, he laid down on his stomach and grabbed your thighs, hoisting them up onto his shoulders as he lowered his face to your throbbing, sopping wet cunt.

“Now let me show you why I’m worth the wait.”

[unforgivableworld]

Founded in 1728 to further the education of young witches from prominent wixen families relocating to The New World, the Salem Witches’ Institute has come far from its highly selective roots. still known to the no-maj’s of Salem as Miss Miriam’s Home for Young Ladies, an elite boarding school, the education provided focuses both on the magical abilities of the young girls under it’s care but also on a sense of community.

It was with the turn of the 20th century that the seismic change that shaped the Salem of today began. First came the introduction of a day school, girls who were too young to yet board or to be trusted freely with a wand being able to attend classes each day, setting them up for the best possible start to their fully fledged magical education. Then came the expansion of the school roll, becoming no longer invite only, instead allowing any girl who attended the Salem Day School to continue their education at the institute. Of course the same old families of yore still got their invitations.

And then, starting in the 1950s, the institute began to expand their day school program internationally starting first in London, then Lisbon, then Cairo and eastwards still to Hong Kong. In many places being the first (and still only) school of their kind in that location. Now the institute has day schools on each continent, all teaching witches aged 5 to 11 and all extending offers to the girls that pass through their doors the opportunity to undertake their secondary education at the mother school. Although the numbers that do take up the opportunity each year dwindle.

The institute was also one of the first to begin teaching the WIX certificate to its students, signing up to the International Confederation of Wix’ scheme as early as its sophomore year, with the first witch ever graduating with such a qualification being Anna Aarons, of the Salem Girls class of ‘59.

With the mother school teaching girls aged 11 to 18 and still being housed in the original 1728 building in Salem, Massachusetts; the institute shares a healthy rivalry with nearby Ilvermorny and boasts a small, but international, body of students.

[sepdet]

While we were hunting for the significant time/space disruption that caused the Berenstein Bears timeline to switch to the Bad Timeline with Trump and Brexit and COVID, we've sometimes pointed to the death of David Bowie.

Or we've traced everything back to Ronald Reagan (and Thatcher).

But we didn't notice another seismic shift in reality.

IN 2013, THE HITACHI CEASED TO BE THE HITACHI.

In fact, we're very lucky its importer convinced Hitachi not to eliminate it altogether:

In fact, according to Eddie Romero, director of operations for Vibratex, the primary US importer of the device, Hitachi was ready to pull the plug entirely before last summer's redesign. As he puts it, Hitachi is a "very traditional" Japanese company and didn't want its name attached to what is essentially the most recognizable sex toy on Earth. Vibratex, not ready to lose its biggest moneymaker (it's sold 250,000 units since last summer), convinced Hitachi to continue producing it as the Original Magic Wand.

We may owe the folks at Vibratex a profound debt of gratitude for saving us from an even worse timeline.

[beforedawnworld]

founded in 1728 to further the education of young witches from prominent wixen families relocating to the new world, the salem witches’ institute has come far from its highly selective roots. still known to the no-maj’s of salem as miss miriam’s home for young ladies, the education provided focuses both on the magical abilities of the young girls under it’s care but also on a sense of community.

it was with the turn of the 20th century that the seismic change that shaped the salem of today began. first came the introduction of a day school, girls who were too young to yet board or to be trusted freely with a wand being able to attend classes each day, setting them up for the best possible start to their fully fledged magical education. then came the expansion of the school roll, becoming no longer invite only, instead allowing any girl who attended the salem day school to continue their education at the institute. of course the same old families of yore still got their invitations. 

and then, starting in the 1950s, the institute began to expand their day school program internationally starting first in london, then lisbon, then cairo and eastwards still to hong kong. in many places being the first (and still only) school of their kind in that location. now the institute has day schools on each continent, all teaching witches aged 5 to 13 and all extending offers to the girls that pass through their doors the opportunity to undertake their secondary education at the mother school. although the numbers that do take up the opportunity each year dwindle.

the institute was also one of the first to begin teaching the WIX certificate to its students, signing up to the international confederation of wix' scheme as early as its sophomore year, with the first witch ever graduating with such a qualification being anna aarons, of the salem girls class of '59.

with the mother school teaching girls aged 13 to 18 and still being housed in the original 1728 building in salem, massachusetts; the institute shares a healthy rivalry with nearby ilvermorny and boasts a small, but international, body of students.

[catpetter72]

ilu proc from brooch of the gods at pylon. though it’s not a staff piece, i’ll happily take the equivalent of a level 9 dragon rider lance that i got for free. the less vindicta i begrudgingly have to do, the better!

managed to get two precise 6 aftershock 1′s combos out of it as well, which i put on my mh asc bow and my elite seasinger kiba to round out my as4e2 offhands. now, if only vorago would give me a seismic wand, then we’d be gaming

[mewnihistorian]

Fortuna the Lucky One

Previous Queen: Galaxia King: Eric Kelpbottom Children: Marina, Sebastian Description: Fortuna was sadly born blind, hence why her mother named her Fortuna, "Good luck", because she would need it. Even though she couldn’t see she has crazy good hearing and sense of smell, that and she could feel vibrations with her feet, hence she never wore shoes. Her 'wand' took the form of a pendant, enhancing her seismic sensing abilities, and was a actually pretty good with magic. Another thing, she hated brushing her hair, often hiding the items she found in the ground with her abilities in it. Inspiration: Name came from the Roman Goddess of luck. Also, her cheekmarks are canon, seen in the wand in 'A Spell With no Name', and it CAN'T be Meteora's as she never wielded the wand. Credits: Some screen editing. 

[rs3outfits]

[dccomicsnews]

Review: Lucifer #18

Review: LUCIFER #18

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Dan Watters

Artists: Max Fiumara

Colors: Dave McCaig

Letters: Steve Wands

Cover: Tiffany Turrill

  Reviewed by: Seth Singleton

  Summary

In my review of Lucifer #18 we travel back to the early days of Hell itself. Witness the first meeting of Odin and Lucifer. Discover a seismic encounter with consequences that will…

[dustedmagazine]

Wand — Perfume (Drag City)

Everyone concerned has decided that the new Perfume from protean garage psyche outfit Wand is an EP, and why not? At six songs (and one brief, inconsequential interlude that mostly serves to separate the two sides) it’s significantly more compact than the band’s four LPs from 2015-17. Looked at another way, though, and you’ll notice it’s only a few minutes shorter than 2015’s very fine psych-pop effort 1000 Days, and it’s the most consistently stellar release the band have put out since their other 2015 record, the seismic Golem. Which is to say, some EPs are throwaways or for the devoted only; Perfume is one of the very best things Wand has yet released, and just as solid as their best “proper” albums. 

That being said, Perfume also marks only the second major Wand release since going from a trio to a quintet (guitarist Robbie Cody and keyboardist/second vocalist Sofia Arreguin both very much in evidence here) and continuing to expand their palette, notably so in the wake of frontman Cory Hanson’s gorgeously lysergic folk pop LP The Unborn Capitalist From Limbo. Which doesn’t mean that Wand can’t still shred; the opening, seven-and-a-half minute title track proves that twice, pivoting neatly at the mid-point between a frantic rocker that slowly coalesces into a thick drone and a new, instrumental version of itself with an even more compulsively slamming riff. The howling guitar switchbacks of the following “Town Meeting” (and the eventual, organ-led chaos that it descends into) and later, aptly-named chugging instrumental “Train Whistle” demonstrate aptly that if anything Wand have gained muscle with the recent changes.  

It’s the other three tracks on the EP that show another aspect of the band’s music coming more fully into its own, though. Wand have always had a softer side, first coming into full focus on the gloriously hazy “Melted Rope” back on Golem and more recently providing one of the highlights on 2017’s slightly scattered Plum with the sweetly sung existentialism of “The Trap,” but there’s always been a bit of a separate feeling to them, as if the album comes to a bit of a halt because now it’s time for the ballad. Here “The Gift” and especially “Pure Romance” soar and swoon in a way that feels more integrated with the rockier tracks around them, and not just because there’s a little skronk in the corners on both. And the closing duet for Arreguin and Hanson on the outright ravishing closing “I Will Keep You Up” segues so smoothly out of “Train Whistle” that it feels like a natural outgrowth of the latter. 

The result, EP or not, deserves to stand with any of the LPs Wand have produced during a short but already extravagantly fertile career. If the less immediately compelling bits on Plum felt like the necessary process of a newly-enlarged band figuring out their limits, the consistently enjoyable and surprising turns that Perfume takes suggests that whatever direction Wand is headed in next, it will be worth listening for it. 

Ian Mathers

[beforedawngossip]

founded in 1728 to further the education of young witches from prominent wixen families relocating to the new world, the salem witches’ institute has come far from its highly selective roots. still known to the no-maj’s of salem as miss miriam’s home for young ladies, the education provided focuses both on the magical abilities of the young girls under it’s care but also on a sense of community.

it was with the turn of the 20th century that the seismic change that shaped the salem of today began. first came the introduction of a day school, girls who were too young to yet board or to be trusted freely with a wand being able to attend classes each day, setting them up for the best possible start to their fully fledged magical education. then came the expansion of the school roll, becoming no longer invite only, instead allowing any girl who attended the salem day school to continue their education at the institute. of course the same old families of yore still got their invitations. 

and then, starting in the 1950s, the institute began to expand their day school program internationally starting first in london, then lisbon, then cairo and eastwards still to hong kong. in many places being the first (and still only) school of their kind in that location. now the institute has day schools on each continent, all teaching witches aged 5 to 13 and all extending offers to the girls that pass through their doors the opportunity to undertake their secondary education at the mother school. although the numbers that do take up the opportunity each year dwindle.

the institute was also one of the first to begin teaching the WIX certificate to its students, signing up to the international confederation of wix' scheme as early as its sophomore year, with the first witch ever graduating with such a qualification being anna aarons, of the salem girls class of '59.

with the mother school teaching girls aged 13 to 18 and still being housed in the original 1728 building in salem, massachusetts; the institute shares a healthy rivalry with nearby ilvermorny and boasts a small, but international, body of students.