Bloom Offering – Episodes (Vinyl Album – The Helen Scarsdale Agency)
Genre/Influences: Minimal-electro; electro-wave.
Background/Info: Operating from Seattle (USA) Nicola Carr has been active under the Bloom Offering for several years. All of her work has been released on cassette format, but “Episodes” seems to be a real official debut on a more professional format. Notice by the way the album is available as a limited edition on vinyl and got no CD release.
Content: I never heard of Bloom Offering before and discovered an electro style reminding me of the sterile 80s electro-wave music. The sound clearly has something retro like and especially the icy sound treatments are pretty characteristic. The production of the vocals perfectly matches with the cold approach.
+ + + : I like this vintage-icy sound running through “Episodes”. There’s an interesting fusion between electro-wave influences and a personal, minimal like approach. The sterile sound production empowers this icy sensation. I also noticed some irresistible deep, vibrating bass lines. “Episodes” also reflects a mature production work featuring songs that crescendo to reach a climax.
– – – : The work only features 7 tracks and I would have liked to get a few more songs. There also is an experimental touch running through the songs, which is not my favorite aspect.
Conclusion: Even if Bloom Offering is inspired by retro/80s elements this kind of work also has something refreshing and avant-garde like for today.
Best songs: “Swallow Me Whole”, “Fishbowl”, “Out 2 Get U”, “Venus Shrugged”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/bloomoffering
Label: www.helenscarsdale.com / www.facebook.com/helenscarsdale
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