The Blank Tapes – Superbloom
This review was initially published on a now-defunct review site, hence the odd formatting.
Artist Name: The Blank Tapes
Album Name: Super Bloom
Standout Song: Exotica
Deep Cut: Sweat Lodge
Five free-association words: Psychedelic but make it sunny
Feeling of album in one word: extraterrestrial
What atmosphere suits this album best?: of course, a sun-filled romp through a field of flowers, obviously.. home alone in front of the window with sun pouring in also works well.
Who does this album make you think of?: aliens landing on earth and exploring the desert.
This album will be loved by fans of…: Psychic Ills, Wooden Shjips, and any Californiana band
Super Bloom is yet another masterful lo-fi dream psych-pop release from prolific Joshua Tree-based musician and artist Matt Adams. The album, presumably named after the explosion of poppies and other desert plants in the fertile crescent between the band’s home base in Joshua Tree and suburbs of Orange County, invokes strong west coast imagery and a sun-filled, lazy vibe – not lazy in craftsmanship, but laid back, effortless and shimmering.
The track’s opening eponymous “Super Bloom” is down-pace and steady, then giving way to a ripping guitar on “Exotica,” showcasing Adams’ fine musicianship. “Sweat Lodge” is a lingering instrumental trip, evoking a state its name may imply. The sound of a mirage. “El Scorcho” is the peak of the EP, a rambling eight-minute drone overlaid by a wandering riff, giving way to a celestial-sounding “Jreaming,” The album mirrors the ebb and flow and of a short journey of any sort, whether physical or psychical. As always, Adams and crew have created a perfect blend of dream pop, noise pop, psychedelia, and surf rock.
