Cerulean

I recently got to talking with my buddy Trev about some of his favorite new releases, and one of the first things he brought up was the new LP from Baths. Here’s his review.

On Cerulean, his first full length LP, L.A. based producer Will Wisenfeld crafts an album evoking a glitched-out day dream on a hazy summer afternoon. The album carries you along on a gentle current (though we do hit some rapids on the way) through a fragile emotional landscape. Album opener “Apologetic Shoulderblades” puts us right into the thick of Wisenfeld’s vision with very little time to get ourselves acclimated, but it’s not too difficult to find yourself bobbing right along with the song. The first two tracks can be a little jarring if you’re caught off guard, but “Maximalist”, the single from the album, has a more traditional pop feel that’s very easy to get into and groove to. It is also around this deep into Cerulean that the album begins to transition from the corporeal and take on more of an ethereal direction.

“Mecha Joy” and “Indoorsy” are interesting and engaging forays into more abstract beat making. Tracks like these (and this album does have its fair share) are more experimental and glitch than the likes of “Rain Smell” or “Rafting Starlit Everglades”.
The glitchiness can catch you off guard at times and often has you guessing as to what is coming next, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how abstract you like your beat making and sampling; some of this Baths album is pretty out there.

It’s not an “easily accessible” album at one distracted listen through, but the lush, deliberate layering on tracks like “Aminals” yields some very rewarding and engaging stuff for those with a little bit of patience. I suppose the album is a “grower”, but if at least a handful of the songs didn’t get you right away, then you might not ever be too down with this album. Though I’ll probably forget about this one come school and cold weather, it does make a great addition to my hazy summer play list.

-Written by Trev Zumpano

Aminals- Baths

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Apologetic Shoulder Blades- Baths

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Maximalist- Baths

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Posted by Beitcher