See Through Dresses and Haybaby

See Through Dresses (Omaha, NE)… 

released their debut self-titled LP in November of 2013. Principal songwriters Mathew Carroll and Sara Bertuldo, along with drummer Nate Van Fleet, have crafted a catalogue of songs indebted to classic post-punk and new wave artists of the 80’s, but their sonic footprint more closely resembles the textural treatments of 90’s dream-pop and shoegaze. The arrangements often build as though to erupt, only to implode. There are moments when Bertuldo and Carroll sound noxious and distant, their voices doused in reverb, their guitars droning and pulsing. When the clouds look dark, See Through Dresses offer flashes of pure pop sunshine to punctuate those moments of isolation and distance. At their most hopeful, they remind us of the simplicity of longing and the eagerness that accompanies an expectation for love in a loveless culture. At their most honest, See Through Dresses portray a dull terror born of idleness, sickness, and failure. The result is a well-rounded catalogue that disillusions as it comforts and soothes as it burns by injecting the familiarity of music-gone-by.

Haybaby (Brookyln, NY)…

released their debut full-length, Sleepy Kids, on Tiny Engines in the Fall of 2015. The band returns in the Spring of 2016, wasting no time following up their acclaimed debut with a brand new EP. Blood Harvest starts where Sleepy Kids left off, showcasing a band sharpening the edges of their own unique sound. 

Leslie Hong’s vocal delivery, be it a whisper or a scream, is as intoxicating as ever on Blood Harvest. Hong cleverly spins her stories as her guitar weaves in and out while the grooving, wiry bass playing of Sam Yield and the propulsive drumming of Jeremy Duvall keep the songs magically churning. Every piece serves a deliberate purpose and gives new meaning to the term, power trio. Yet, Haybaby never overpower, they engage and engross the listener instead. Sure, the music can be uncompromising and harsh at times but it’s the subtleties of the band that captivate and pack the biggest emotional gut punches. Blood Harvest sees the band exploring and pushing their sound to rawer, often noisier extremes while still maintaining their sly, melodic songwriting prowess. The five songs here perfectly encapsulate the captivating range and depth of the band. If Blood Harvest proves anything, it is that the beautiful mystery of Haybaby has yet to fully unravel.