Baths is the solo output of 21-year-old Will Wiesenfeld and though already making music under the name [Post-Foetus], Baths's debut surfaced on the reputable anticon. label just this year after being introduced by fellow electronic artist Daedelus. Baths' debut album Cerulean has received a healthy amount of positive press, as well as a persistent "chillwave" labeling. Cerulean is a collection of intricately layered, endearing and dreamy electronic music with the concept of romanticism underlying it (or so I've heard from the album's press release).
Cerulean is quite a diverse take on the realm of electronic music with its prominently acoustic instrumentation, pleasant atmosphere and childlike mannerisms. The digital elements seem to simply add structure and rhythm to each song rather than creating them. Lush, pitch-shifting guitar noodling takes the forefront of the song "Aminals" instead of buzzing synthesizers. Field recordings and found sound serve as the rhythm section on the trudging, melancholy "Rain Smell" instead of electronic hand claps. The name "Baths" is a perfect representation of the sounds heard on this album; you're enveloped by the music as opposed to observing it.
The most apt comparison that can be given to Cerulean is by another 2010 album, Toro Y Moi's Causers of This. The fractured beats, the rhythmic in-and-out fades, and the generally nighttime vibe are shared by both of these albums. However, Cerulean is a much more varietal album in terms of its songwriting and influences. Rather than adding new motifs to an older form of music, Baths creates something fresh and new with its glitchy yet dreamlike sound. From the self-falsetto sampling on "Lovely Bloodflow" to the beautifully harmonizing vocal melody on "Indoorsy", Baths certainly harnesses creativity and originality on Cerulean.
Baths's debut is quite a remarkable one; it's detailed, assorted and colorful. Though it does lack cohesion, it at least follows a somewhat consistent path. Unlike most debuts, Cerulean establishes Baths's signature sound right from the very start. Though the album has a significant amount of hype revolving around it, this review is to confirm that the hype is at least well deserved.
[Baths Myspace]
[Buy Cerulean from anticon. records]
No comments:
Post a Comment