I’ve been a fan of Baths since the debut “Cerulean” was released in the summer of 2010. It didn’t really grab me at first, but I think that it really served as my gateway into electronic music in a lot of ways. I would always try to listen to Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin and other stuff and not really understand it, but when “Cerulean” came around it was really the first full album of electronic music that I could really connect with.
So, I think that, of course, there is some sort of sentimental value hearing this new track, but it’s pretty much undeniably good. “Ocean Death” is the name of the new EP that just came out last week, and is the name of the opening track, heard above. It’s darker in tone than anything on “Cerulean,” and pretty straight forward in comparison.
The opening track is pretty much a 3 part form with the outer parts taking the bulk of the track, and a brief contrasting middle section that drops everything only to build the structure back up again. The latter presentation of the original material features a bit of a development, which is probably a good thing because the first minute or so of the track has a tendency to feel like it is just sort of sitting there, and it just needs to move.
Nice thick bass timbres and a straightforward, moderate tempo dance beat accompany the opening of the song with a fairly static vocal that approaches from behind a perspective shifting harmonic progression. It’s pretty simple as far as songs go, but still effective in creating a darker mood, and captures the breathy, subtle scratchiness of some of the tracks on “Cerulean.”
Baths is currently on tour across the US. Check the tour dates below. “Ocean Death” is currently available as a download from iTunes.
North American Tour Dates w/ Young Fathers & P. Morris:
04/24/2014
The Space – Hamden, CT
04/25/2014
The Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
04/27/2014
Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
04/30/2014
Bones Gate Fraternity – Hanover, NH
05/01/2014
S.A.T – Montreal, CA
05/02/2014
Ritual – Ottawa, CA
05/03/2014
Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, CA
05/04/2014
Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
05/05/2014
Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
05/08/2014
The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN
05/09/2014
Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL
05/10/2014
Triple Rock Social Club – Minneapolis, MN
05/11/2014
The Aquarium – Fargo, ND
05/13/2014
The Starlite – Edmonton, CA
05/14/2014
Commonwealth Bar & Stage – Calgary, CA
05/15/2014
Fortune Sound Club – Vancouver, CA
05/16/2014
Neumo’s Crystal Ball – Seattle, WA
05/17/2014
Rotture – Portland, OR
05/18/2014
WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
05/21/2014
The Independent – San Francisco, CA
05/22/2014
Cellar Door – Visalia, CA
05/23/2014
Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
05/24/2014
Casbah – San Diego, CA
