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Hailing from Calgary Canada, Braids band broke the music scene with their lighter, shoe-gaze debut, Native Speaker in 2011, scoring points and finding devoted fans almost instantly. Having logged well-earned touring hours of over 18 months and even recovered from the departure of a fellow band member, the now three-piece holed up for an entire year to write, heal and record their follow up.
With the previous record born out of an organic live environment, the group were conscious to explore a more introspective, conceptual electronic approach to their song writing and sound. Flourish // Perish offers a soul-reaching contrast through its complex rhythms and structured melodies, affirming the trios collective strength. Finding a harmonic balance between structure and delicacy, it encompasses much loved older-material roots with raw electro exploration.
Listen to 'Fruend' from Flourish // Perish below
Creating lovely rich layers throughout the album, track ‘December’ features thudding bass notes with complimentary percussion symbols. These magical sounds paired with ethereal vocals by lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston, makes for a true sense of escapism.
The longest track of the album, just over 8 minutes long, ‘Together’ provides heavy-dub features. Making it the darkest side to the record, 'Together's shadowy experimental use of sounds paired with mesmerising vocals boarders on hallucinogenic. While contrasting ‘Ebben’ demonstrates the utter delicacy Standell-Preston can also offer with dreamy vocals ready to wash over you. Appropriately cinematic, ‘In Kind’ finalises the transporting album with its vibrating symbols, hazy guitar and pulsing beats. As BRAIDS haunting vocals linger throughout; it’s complex dream-gaze with an electro soul.
With vulnerable song writing and icy percussion, this beautiful album offers more than an electronic edge. It’s engaging and explorative, revealing the groups emotional growth and maturity making it their most organic record to date.
