If as they say a week is a long time in politics, then heaven knows how long it is in music. Hardly a month goes by without hearing of a band break-up, or of a seemingly 'new' group that appear to have sprung from nowhere and are fresh off the starting blocks - only to discover that they are a recycled version of an old outfit.
So now we come to Blood Sound. As this is a Track Of The Day, I will go there first, but bear with me and the above paragraph will become clearer.
Making a rare exception we are featuring a two-for-the-price-of-one Track Of The Day with a double whammy by the Philadelphians Blood Sound. Despite having listened to and enjoyed both 'Acid Summer' and 'L.A. Punk' (which were digitally released on October 31), many times, we just can't pick one as better than the other.
Both are bloody fantastic.
'Acid Summer' sounds like a Joy Division meets Human League. You feel it is just slightly dipping its toes in some psychy drones; not all ten toes, mind... just one little one. Step in and take a ride back a few decades. Lots of synths here too. While 'L.A. Punk' is slightly more laid-back (there are still lots of synths though), relying more on a synthed-up post-punk composition.
As you may have guessed, Blood Sound excel in synths, with all members hitting those knobs: Chris Jordan - vocals, drum machine, synths; Tristan McKeever - bass, synths; Vincent Tkac - guitar, synths. And their 80s inspiration more or less speaks for itself. The three have only been playing together as Blood Sound since September, so these two tracks are a very moreish appetite whetter for further songs. From what they tell us, an EP or possible full-length are on the cards for early in the New Year as well as live shows. Which sounds a very exciting prospect to us.
Okay, still there? Right.
Now the impression is that Blood Sound may have only materialised in September, or late summer this year anyway - which actually is something of a misnomer. True, in essence, with the present three members at least, but dig a little deeper (the internet must be a curse at times for anyone trying to bury information!), and it is to be found that Blood Sound had an earlier nassance. Our blogging colleague The VPME was able to assimilate more details which is contained in his feature from April.
As a brief synopsis, the former Blood Sound - who appeared then to lean more towards a shoegaze/dreampop sound - was formed by McKeever and Tkac in Philadelphia in the spring of 2012, although it was not until they met Carli Gene - who was to become their third member and vocalist - in Brooklyn in December last year that things took off, leading to a debut EP ‘Misanthropic Motions'. Both the EP and two Soundcloud tracks from it - ‘Jane Austen’ and ‘Summer Sleep’ - now no longer exist online.
We assume that at some time during this summer, Carli opted out of the band, to be replaced by Chris Jordan (who also drums for The Morelings) and the band's sound has metamorphosed into its present more synth-led form.
But all that aside, these tracks, as already said, are hot potatoes. And it is to be hoped that Blood Sound hang in there in this incarnation.
For those in Philly, we recommend you get along to the Silk City Bar & Lounge to see Blood Sound make their debut live on December 7.
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