Eye of Night, the latest album from Bad Braids, the moniker of Megan Biscieglia, offers a record full of hauntingly elegant tales. Co-produced with Jordan Burgis and released on cassette and digitally via Glowing Dagger, the album continues down the enlightening path carved out by its predecessors, Arrow And Orb and Supreme Parallel.
“Intro (Fade)” sets the table, delivering a mind-cleansing mantra of sorts – “Proceed and the rest will fade.” The plucking of an acoustic guitar frames a forest-roaming sensation as Paul Christian’s cello and Jordan Burgis’s organ amplify the eerie surroundings. One continues negotiating through the treacherous terrain in “Jackal,” with its ominous howl and stirring blend of shimmering percussion, beautifully sparse guitar, and flute and bells, demonstrating a supernatural echo.
Lurking in the shadows is “Mara,” as Biscieglia’s vocals take on a sacred air, a call to action delivered as a beautiful comforting chant addressed at the listener – “All come forward to the start of sea/Lay down, lay down with me,” the uncertainty of the musical surroundings are fleshed out as the guitar lead is supplemented by the creepy installments of organ & EWI and lingering vocals.
“Wild Flowers” develops from a peaceful origin, gathering the momentum from percussion as the guitar riff escalates in intensity before easing off and then making a controlled push. “Fever Dream Powers” utilizes the ethereal combination of EWI, theremin and saw, taking the folk aesthetic and enhancing it through the swirling textures the instruments create. The album closer, “Glory, Glory,” retains an unsettling element triggering a cautious burst of adrenaline.
Eye of Night finds Bad Braids pulling listeners into the unknown, led by Biscieglia’s alluring vocals that hint at warmth and comfort. While the surroundings suggest the presence of ghostly dangers, one can’t help but climb deeper into the thicket. – Michael Colavita