Photo Source: Erik Blood
Erik Blood is playing at Vibrations 2012 tomorrow, the second annual day festival curated by Cairo. Other musicians performing include King Dude, Night Beats, Witch Gardens, Stickers, and more.
Blood’s latest is the full-length Touch Screens which came out earlier this month. His music tends to oscillate between raucous, drum-driven works and subtler, pulse-beat pieces which lift their bouyant weight to levitate.
"The Lonesome Death of Henry Paris" introduces itself orchestrally before mutating into a hypnotic pairing of bass and beat. His vocals are clear, without effect, speaking sans reservation; their forthrightness makes for good storytelling. Urgent noises start to erupt halfway through, including the entrancing reverberations of a siren-like synth.
"Constance and Casey," on the other hand, tears right into the fabric before letting up on the gas a bit. The guitar see-saws and whirs like My Bloody Valentine; the passages which bookend the shoegazey, psychedelic spinning are tap your foot, come and sing along worthy.
Touch Screens malleability as an album is of the highest order, revealing its water-like quality that allows its sonic forces to form whatever shape is necessary for the song at a given moment.
Make sure to check out Volunteer Park tomorrow August 25 between 1:00-10:00pm for Vibrations. Attendance is free! Listen to "Amputee" below and check out Erik Blood’s bandcamp to stream the entire record. You can purchase a copy for $10.
– Cameron LaFlam