Baleen – Baleen EP

I’m always watching for my postman coming in case he’s bring me records. This week he had one from Massachusetts four-piece Baleen. Their self-titled ep landed on my doorstep courtesy of the band Gregg Bothwell – Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Michael Anctil – Drums, Katy Beyer – Vocals and Austin Hatch – Bass. I had been immediately floored by the opening track ‘Halfmoon’ and upon exploring the EP further I found a diverse range of sounds and textures throughout its six tracks. This band are off to an exciting start that bodes well for future releases. Let’s dive in and find out exactly why I think that.

As I mentioned, we kick off with ‘Halfmoon’. The intro smacks you about the face with its sheer power. Fans of Nothing will appreciate the dynamics of this one. Hushed vocals over gently picked guitars in the verses erupt into a ferocious wall of noise in the chorus. The descending chords into that chorus are a stroke of genius that lifts this track and excites our ears. The almost ambient final minute seals this as a song to remember.

‘Smokestack’ barrels onto the speakers next, all attitude and melody. The guitars here are superb, I mean all the guitars. Listen how the lead guitar gives way to the bass for a flourish or two. The expansive chorus evolving into that hooky riff that will have your toe tapping and head nodding along.

My weak spot in any shoegaze song is glide guitar, that skilful use of the vibrato arm on a guitar to create that weaving around a note sound that Kevin Shields pioneered all those years ago. On ‘Ocean Hue’ Baleen use it to genius effect, lending an otherworldly atmosphere before the song blossoms into this monster rock epic.

‘Whalebone’ next, is an ambient tone poem very much influenced by the band’s namesake. These could be whales talking through an eerie drone. It’s a refreshing palate cleanser before we move on.

The pace drops on the sunlight kissed ballad ‘For Age’. The band stretch their slowcore muscles and blend it seamlessly with their brand of shoegaze to create a unique and beguiling track. Things are no less intense or engaging because of this, far from it. It just shows that Baleen are no one trick pony.

As to make my point for me Baleen choose to close out the EP with a sumptuous piece of Midwest Emo, ‘High School’ blends the aesthetics of an American Football track with the whispered vocal shoegaze style. What a surefooted way to end this musical journey in Baleens world. A tip of the hat to their predecessors but making it something entirely new and all their own.

As someone who was around for the nineties and the birth of shoegaze and grunge, the Baleen EP is steeped in nostalgia. Whilst that longing is there it’s never clawing or derivative. Baleen simply make their references and go about their merry way, creating their versions of those sounds and moulding them into new and exciting melodies and soundscapes.  Isn’t that what great music is all about.

The Baleen EP is out now and is available digitally and on 12” vinyl from the Baleen Bandcamp page.

Follow Baleen on social media here…

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• Bandcamp