Minimalist sound, maximum substance
A dash of Fleetwood Mac, a pinch of Led Zeppelin, and a few dollops of The Doors all sound like parts of a recipe that defined generations of rock n roll, but this recipe also describes Blackwater Holylight and their self-titled album in great detail. From the beginning of the album, the muddy guitar sounds and the simple yet entrancing vocals of Allison Faris put the listener in the same state of mind that the greats like Jim Morrison and Stevie Nicks were able to entrance their listeners into feeling.
The fluidity displayed as the songs flow into each other through the release is superb, everything fits and seamlessly transitions from one track to the next. From the very first track “Willow” their minimalistic style compiled with Faris’ siren-like vocals make for a hypnotic and mesmerizing listen. The psych-rock influence is incredibly apparent, but Blackwater Holylight also incorporates a sort of serene atmosphere as well.
It would only make complete sense after listening to the material, but no single instrument ever takes all of the attention at one time to include vocals. Every section of the band is merely an accent to one another, such as with “Sunrise.” Here, the reverb driven guitar simply adds to the vocals, while the vocals are supporting the guitar inversely, and the subtle drum beat adds just a bit more synergy across the board.
As a whole, Blackwater Holylight is a home run of an initial release for the band and stands as a reminder that heavy music doesn’t have to be abrasive and overbearing, an element of beauty thrown into the mix can go just as far. To put in the fewest words possible: It is minimalist sound with maximum substance, pure and simple.
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