A melancholic dream

Indie-pop group Papercuts has just released their new EP, Baxter’s Bliss, which showcases a dreamy sound and even a couple of cover songs the band puts their own spin on. With melancholic guitar and piano, this album is a sad, honest collection of stories and feelings toward the world.

The first track, “A Dull Boy,” is sad yet upbeat. The band layers guitars and drums to create a wall of sound, with mumbled vocals floating atop, setting a tragic tone for the lyrics over the optimistic accompaniment. The group combines feelings of being “dull” with hope for the future through high-energy instrumentation and monotonous vocals.

The second track, “Try Baxter’s Bliss,” takes on a more melancholy sound with a crying guitar and gloomy piano. The group sings about escaping their current feelings and the world. This track is both depressing and freeing, as they admit to feeling these emotions but acknowledge that they can find escapes. This track has a dreamy sound with synthesizers, personified instruments and smooth vocals.

“When Will You Come Home” is the third song on the EP and a cover of a Galaxie 500 song. Papercuts put their own spin on the song by putting vocals at the center and adding an effects-laden guitar. With these qualities, they’re able to make this song their own and keep up the dreamscape sound.

The following track, “The Partisan,” is also a cover, originally recorded by Leonard Cohen. This is an emotional song about the French Resistance in WWII. Papercuts take out the last sections of the song that are typically sung in French, but otherwise, keep the story the same. This is an emotional track that the band once again makes their own while still sticking to the song’s original message.

“End Times Daily,” the last track, is an emotional journey. The band sings of the endings that people experience in life, with acoustic guitar and piano as the main instrumental accompaniment. The limited instrumentation allows the emotions in their voices and the story to shine through, making for another melancholic addition to the EP.

Overall, Papercuts explores their sound on these five songs using innovative production, while also touching on stories of the past through cover songs. The band carries a gloomy tone and expresses their thoughts and feelings throughout Baxter’s Bliss.