An EP that transcends the mind
Dead Leaf Echo breaks their long musical hiatus with their recent EP release, Milk.Blue.Kisses.And.Whalebone.Wishes. The band brings a vastly refined tone that sparkles and, at times, dazzles.
This Brooklyn indie trio originally planned the release of their third album in 2020. Yet, like so many other musicians at the time, the pandemic seemed to have other plans for the band. Through that delay, however, Milk.Blue.Kisses.And.Whalebone.Wishes was born, giving their fans a taste of what’s possibly to come. This EP is filled with long layered ambient guitar tones that swell and fall with lead singer LG Galloen’s vocals poking through to greet the ears.
“Milk.Blue.Kisses (Foil in Motion)” kicks off the record, setting the tone for the rest of the EP. Creating a vast soundscape, this track is reminiscent of the emotional moments within an ’80s coming-of-age movie. It is vast, filled with an endless reverbed electric guitar that floats through both speakers.
The same spatial, atmospheric and ambient textures continue in “Blue.Unto.You.” For four minutes, a luscious and full soundscape of punchy guitar tones plucks through the subtle yet aerial backing vocals, imitative of a choir. Within these textures, a percussion line keeps a steady beat. As beautiful as this track is, however, for the first two minutes the song does become repetitive.
Just like “Blue.Unto.You,” “Kisses.Silence” is almost 5 minutes of a droning cinematic soundscape. For this track though, there are slight changes and variations within it, which allow it to feel ever-changing and not so stagnate. Near the end, the percussive cymbal crashes clamber through, causing a sort of disarray within the ethereal swells of the synths and guitar.
“Whale Bone” kicks off with a delicious psychedelic flowing guitar, joined by a bouncing synth that swims side to side through the ears. This track does not feature any changes or major swells that catch the attention, in a way making it a great track to listen to while meditating or studying. It is smooth, and for three full minutes, almost seems to glow.
Milk.Blue.Kisses.And.Whalebone.Wishes is a wonderful step back into the musical world for Dead Echo Leaf. This EP is an interesting one, filled with vast cinematic soundscapes, that open the mind and relaxes.
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