I’m Paranoid: Fix the Audio Mix

Four-piece Idle Bloom incorporate blurry guitar and vocal layers by Olivia Scibelli and Callan Dwan with the agitated, hyperactive rhythm section of Katie Banyay and Weston Sparks. While an initial 7” split with Churchyard was recorded this May (at the Pussy Palace, I might add), the band broke out with a six-track debut disc in December that they could call their own.

“No Body/No Control,” the opening track on Nashville-based Idle Bloom’s EP, Some Paranoia, features punk harmonies over grunge rock drums and guitar with a splash of hardcore. While the first half seems semi-polished (as much as a punk-grunge track can be), the second half unravels in a furious acceleration, picking up speed in an entirely instrumental finale and losing precision with frenetic momentum.

The title track has a solid rhythm base to begin, but at a pace that is borderline frantic. It’s uncomfortable and anxious, inducing a true state of paranoia. Though it’s true to its title, the noise is excessive, burying lyrics in the audio mix. “Mind Reader” has a psychedelic punk speed with a repeating dark gypsy key-shift segment that is momentarily interesting. “I’m a mind reader, not a shape shifter,” Scibelli sings.

The mix down is definitely off in “Snake in the Grass,” in which the lyrics are completely lost. The guitar duo and drums overwhelm with heavy shredding and cymbal clashing, during which Scibelli and Dwan semi-yell-sing at an audible decibel before slipping back into incoherent drones.

“Pride Lane” hits in an Evanescence-reminiscent blaze. The guitar, drum, and bass rage defiantly, while vocals drift overhead in a lower-pitch but still somewhat angelic state compared to the chaos that is forming below. It’s controlled chaos, though, with distinct guitar and bass lines cut cleanly, though the drums remain looser.

“Old Bone” stands out for its catchy guitar intro and clear drums and bass. The fuzz comes in with the second guitar, but the vocals remain more prominent than in any of the other tracks. There is a good sonic balance here, and also a pleasant yet tense amount of sexual angst. “You get anxious so you get too high / But where are you tonight my love / Please make me the exception to your rule.” The vocals blur out as Scibelli repeats, “I want.”

The production needs to be tweaked to get Idle Bloom’s audio mix consistent between songs. The worst is watching a concert in which the sound technician doesn’t give enough volume to the lead vocalist. That’s going on here, and it’s distracting. Instrumentally, there’s a good garage rock vibe going on—purposefully messy and sonically overstimulating, yet not entirely sloppy.