Review Summary: "And who are you in the back of this stereo?"
Bellows is the moniker of bedroom recording artist Oliver Kalb, residing in Brooklyn, NY. Bellows is a member of The Epoch, which is a musical collective including artists such as Told Slant, Small Wonder, Eskimeaux et al. based primarily in New York. Bellows' music is lo-fi folk-pop, but surpasses any connotations you might have with those labels.
It is difficult for me to pinpoint potential sources of influence for Bellows given his limited available background information. There are moments where I am reminded of Elliott Smith, particularly during "Change By Night". Oliver sings this track with a similar whisper, and I can't help but compare the melody to "Angeles". There are also points on the album where Oliver uses a deeper tone, harmonizing in a way that reminds me of the vocals on Astronauts'
Hollow Pond, (though his album was released after
Blue Breath, therefore has no influence on it). Clearly, Kalb is aware of his limitations as a vocalist, and uses excellent mixing to make it work to his advantage. "Hello Morning" is one of the more stripped down tracks on the album, centred around a simple 3-note progression and a subtle, yet infectious vocal melody. Yet, as per the rest of the album, the mixing is sublime.
You may have noticed the excessive reference to mixing in this review, and it is justified. Not since
Deathconsciousness have I been so impressed by a bedroom recording artist's production, and that is a bold statement given the god-tier reverence DC has garnered in the past few years. While Blue Breath is hardly comparable to DC, which I have seen described as the 'soundtrack to the apocalypse', it is still a shining example of an artist with limited resources painstakingly crafting a record both unique and sincere.
While there are many strikingly bitter moments in Kalb's delivery, the album as a whole is uplifting, as described on the artist's bandcamp biography: "Bellows' sound is delicate but erupts with frantic wobbling drums and large orchestral sections that defy the limitations of conventional pop and folk. bellows is meant to be encouraging."
Blue Breath is truly impressive in regards to bedroom recording. There are innumerable subtleties strewn about the album, to the point that it is hard to imagine Oliver not having a half-dozen musicians at his disposal during the recording process. The mixing is nearly flawless, and Bellows has mastered the ability of taking modest vocal and instrumental abilities and creating beautiful, memorable music. Every song is unique, both in melody and instrumentation, and there are so many highlights that recommending any specific tracks as standouts is futile. Bellows has come out of nowhere and demanded your attention.
"Soon you'll start associating important moments in your life with songs from this album."
