From a distance, one might not immediately guess that Portland, Oregon is home to an impossibly diverse roster of endlessly talented artists, but it’s very much the case. The streets are literally teaming with people deserving of full-blown record contracts. That being said, as part of the ultra-crowded, beyond competitive scene we came up in, we don’t always miss it. But every time we hear To Bloom, we can’t help but get a little misty-eyed.
To Bloom has always been a couple steps ahead of the crows in terms of using their various influences to create something new, sometimes even making it deliciously difficult to pin down what kind of music they’re actually making. It’s post-hardcore. It’s prog. It’s even RnB. But it’s not their influences or style that puts them ahead – it’s their dedication as a collective unit to the songs.
The entire band is always thematically on point, rarely letting the vocals or a single instrument dictate the arc of the music unless it’s what the moment calls for. In a word, To Bloom has always felt “mature,” yet they’ve always felt new, and speaking of new, their new single “Daughters” is finally here:
It’s To Bloom’s most focused and emotionally resonant work to date, flashing bits of Circa Survice, Zeta, and Closure in Moscow while also creating a sonic journey that very much stands on it’s own. As expected, “Daughters” expertly leads its listeners through the dark, and what’s interesting is that it feels so immediate, but also takes its time. It’s opening crashes sound like submerging waves, and as it starts to kick in, it feels like fighting against a mournful, relentless tide.
Thematic execution aside, the whole band has also never sounded as great as they do here – first off, the way the mix meets the composition is essentially flawless. The drums and bass feel completely locked in while also getting split-second moments to shine on their own, the guitars feel perfectly large without being overwhelming, and the vocals soar with conviction.
In a way, “Daughters” in sounds like the band is playing to themselves, as if any burden of needing to adhere to aesthetic or expectation has been lifted. We’re not saying those things ever weighed on them, but the focus and attention to detail to the song as a singular piece of work is pretty astounding. If they ever put out a full length or even an EP of material on this level, we won’t be surprised when it ends up on AOTY lists everywhere.
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