FOLIO
by Jack Diablo
Label: Kanine Records
Release Date: August 18, 2009
Imitation, as they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. In the music world, it can also be a means to stretch your creative muscles and discover your own unique niche. Recently there has been an influx of bands tapping into the realm of electronic experimental pop. Animal Collective paved the way for what looks to be a generation of imitators and would-be’s, but is far from the end-all, be-all. So, it comes as no surprise that a decent percentage of the music that comes across the EU desk these days is a result of PR firms trying to cash in on the latest trend.
But while your first reaction might be to dismiss a particular group as a cheap imitation, it’s important to consider all the facts. Such is the case with Blind Man’s Colour, a two-piece band out of St. Petersburg, FL. While they undeniably take cues from AC, MGMT, and the like, these 19-year-old ambient popsters are breaking out with their debut album, Season Dreaming. Combining traditional acoustic instrumentation and “stealthily recorded found sounds” with some creative ones and zeroes, they harness the ecstasy of youth through 4-track magic.
Songs like ‘Jimmy Dove’ capture the otherworldliness of Pink Floyd, while ‘The Planets Explode’ swirls and lingers like a Sigur Ros track. There is a tendency for some of the tracks to blur together with all the ambient intro/outros and one gets the feeling that the music lacks a tether. It floats through the ether without rhythmically checking in on solid ground. ‘The Dinosaur Ride’ puts you just within sight of that foundation but seems to beg for a pulsing bass beat to drive it home. ‘Anxious Place’ comes the closest, but is far from the best track.
The band, although in its infancy, has already attracted the attention of Kanye West and Ed Droste (aka Grizzly Bear). This summer will see their first round of touring as they take to the roads of Florida before heading to New York City for a proverbial trial by fire.
One YouTube commenter put it pretty well – “psychedelicious.” Only time will tell if Blind Man’s Colour has what it takes to stand out in what could very well become a saturated genre, but given the opportunity, Season Dreaming makes it clear that this group shows definite promise and has the potential to blaze some new trails into uncharted sonic frontiers.
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