“Bluebeard” – The Brook & The Bluff
Top Picks: “Twist My Arm,” “My Foggy Lense,” “Long Limbs“
Similar Artists: Flipturn, The Moss, Charlie Burg
Off of the wave of their last tour, The Brook and The Bluff released their fourth studio album Bluebeard. The band, who have opened for acts such as Mt. Joy, Ashe, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, have steadily grown in notoriety amongst fans of indie folk-pop. This new album certainly justifies their fame. With groovy instrumentals, airy vocals, and an all-around funky feel, the album is a fantastic example of the band’s capabilities.
The album opens with the track “Normal Things.” The song is a simple track about the release of doing “normal things.” It’s about finding peace in nature—a recurring theme to the project—and searching for peace in the chaos of life. I also suspect the song is a bit of an outlet for the frustrations of stress and privacy that come with the popularity growth the band is experiencing right now.
“Long Limbs” is a funky, whimsical track that explores the idea of resurfacing in a relationship. At its core, it’s looking at what it means to leave something and find your way back to it. But the instrumentals on the track are what truly shine. Filled with light bells, fun guitar riffs, and rolling harmonies, it feels like something you need to bop your head to.
“Tangerine,” the album’s lead single, continues the themes of love and peace. It utilizes an intriguing metaphor of eating tangerines in the springtime to the feeling of peace the speaker gets when they’re around their lover. It’s a very wholesome song, and its production and instrumentals are very simplistic, but in the best way possible.
“Headfirst” is the first track that really brings any differentiation to the production of the album. The vocals are truly the highlight of this song. Filled with glitch and fry, they’re pulled forward and backward in the production, and the background is full of light harmonies. It’s interesting to listen to, and most of all, it’s fun. This seems to continue with “Twist My Arm,” which features a half-time breakdown about halfway through. It boasts heavy drums and bass, and a belted vocal. Then it drops back down like nothing happened.
“My Foggy Lens” drops us back into the folk-pop of the rest of the album. Upbeat drums, airy vocals, and very forward guitar are what stand out from this song. The album comes to a close with the titular track “Bluebeard.” The song opens with just a vocal and a running chromatic synth in the background. It opens up with whimsical synths, light vocals, and high harmonies. It feels like the vocals lift you up as you soar through the sky. While it’s a softer song in comparison to some of the rest of the tracks, this song is a perfect, high place to end the album.
Overall, the album is a fun look into what The Brook & The Bluff are capable of. Throughout the project, their vocals are light and airy in a way that’s reminiscent of typical bedroom pop music. Their instrumentals clearly have a variety of influences, but they’re often grounded in folk and pop models. The album as a whole sounds like a fall day in the woods. It’s a great introduction to both the new season (with the many, many depictions of nature) and to the band itself.
The Brook & The Bluff on tour now. Get tickets here.