After working with Pedro the Lion since 1998, David Bazan released his first solo album “Curse Your Branches” on September 1, 2009. Since then, Bazan produced two other albums, his most recent being “Blanco,” released on May 13, 2016.
Compared to his previous release, “Strange Negotiations,” this album departs in style, favoring a more electronic, and lo-fi sound that drenches every song in a vintage analog tone. With “Blanco,” Bazan takes a little inspiration from his original sound and capitalizes on the few electronic elements. He steps away from the acoustic drums and distorted guitar melodies on his second album and fully embraces the electronic with the drum machines and synth tones that can be heard on his first release.
This change in tone is a definite success. The warbly, fuzzy, echoey sound provides a warm atmosphere for Bazan’s simple vocals and adds filler to songs like “Kept Secrets” and “Little Landslide,” which introduce acoustic guitar and other non-electronic instruments.
As much as I love the sound, it has some drawbacks. When I said that Bazan capitalizes on the tone, I meant it. It is impossible to escape it. There is not much variation in the album, which can be a deal breaker for those that are not huge fans of albums that sound like your grandfather’s radio.
“Blanco” is not an album to play at parties. Listening to it is like drinking a warm cup of tea on the patio on a summer night, right at the end of sunset, when the orange in the sky just starts turning into pinks and blues. It is a sleepy record that has a couple tracks with some groove to them, which, as with any album, can be great for the right circumstances.
All in all, Bazan once again made me a fan of his music, though “Blanco” is not a record that I could play all week, but is great for relaxing nights with board games or art projects.
