Blooms – “Lust”

When first we encountered Blooms, with the sensual undulation that was ”Skin”, Louise Cunnane was wearing a veil of secrecy, showing nothing but the music. Then, with the follow up ”If I”, the veil was thrown back and she flashed us a bit of bio; revealing her name, face, some history and her collaboration with Darragh Nolan (from Sacred Animals) as her producer. With all that speculating and supposition put asunder, we (the blog world) are getting back to what we did to start with, talk about the music.

“Lust” is the latest offering from her forthcoming EP, IF, and continues with that measured, understated feeling she has given us previously. Cunnane’s vocal has a cool, pure quality to it, smooth and crystalline it glides effortlessly over the sparse, digital beat. Beneath them, there is a delicate aquatic quality; a subtle electronic murmuring, pulsing like a jellyfish as if slips through the ocean while a faint rattle of snake echoes even further beyond.

It’s lust but it’s not the heat of bodies entwined. There is no glisten of sweat or arching of back, no instead it’s cold, almost predatory in fact. Coiled and calm, it seems to be waiting for the right moment to pounce, a moment that may indeed be signalled by its apparently abrupt ending.

Regardless, it is another piece of stunning, minimalist elegance that should only further enhance the reputation of Blooms and one which makes us even more excited to hear the EP in its entirety.

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Blogathon: Blooms – “Skin”

When embarking on this blogathon, one thing we hadn’t considered (and probably should have done) is what happens when we find a track we love and then find there is absolutely nothing about the band online. Brilliantly that is exactly what just happened when we heard and fell in love with “Skin” by Blooms. Fantastic track, very secretive act. Doh!

What we have managed to find out, such as it is, is that Blooms is from the UK, it’s a She only and she has an EP, IF in the offing which will deal with the entirety of a relationship from genesis (not the band) to conclusion with everything in between; lust, love and a broken heart. That’s it.

Still, that means we get to focus on the music which is a good thing, because the music is superb. It opens with a subtle energy, dark like storm clouds, a warning of the hurt to come perhaps? Stripped back and almost primal with sparse tribal beats and a seductive vocal that soaks the track with emotion like rain in the dry season.

It’s carnal but not in a ‘rip each other’s clothes off the minute you see them’ way, it’s more controlled and steamy than that. “Skin” undulates like two bodies together, like a snake under the spell of a mystical charmer and like the pleasure, passion and pain of love.

We can’t wait to find out what’s next and hopefully also a little more about this mysterious but stunning Blooms.

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‘P’ is for Polaroid 85

Have you ever had that experience where you hear a new band, and you just have to hear more? You seek out and devour all they have to offer and still you are not sated? Still you yearn, you crave, and you desire more, more, more. You understand what we mean don’t you? We mean music that just excites you to the extent that it practically lives on your stereo.

Yeah, that’s how we felt when we first heard Polaroid 85. The hairs on the back of our neck started to tingle and there was a quickening of our pulse. This seven-piece from London, who excel at their blend of orchestral electronic, a sort of high-end chill out sound if you will, are really something special. Strings, wind, brass, beats, samples and synths all play a prominent part in an incredible aural experience.

Formally known simply as Neeta, after singer-songwriter-producer Neeta Sarl, the collective (the nomenclature is their own btw) fuses a myriad of disparate sounds, styles and feelings into a single form of sonic magnificence. The blend of the orchestral and digital can leave your head spinning, like you’re slightly dizzy from standing up too fast. The smooth as silk vocals are complemented perfectly with the softness of the woodwind sound, which in turn is juxtaposed with down-tempo, break beats. At times it’s like listening to drum and bass played at half speed whilst Classic FM is on another stereo nearby. That may sounds ridiculous, but it is actually divine.

There is so much going on it is almost absurd, yet never does it feel like there is too much to cope with. The number of ingredients used may be somewhat intimidating, but they each set off one another superbly.

Alas, it did not take us long to devour all that Polaroid 85 currently has to offer, as there is only a three track EP, the Fuzzy Mornings EP available right now, but the band has promised a couple of new tracks in the near future. Rest assured, we will keep you posted as and when we get more details.

In the meantime you can download the Fuzzy Mornings EP for free via Bandcamp

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