Balam Acab - See Birds

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Customer reviews
Press release
Soundclips

4...according to our Business Lady on Thu 19 Aug, 2010.

Man this is some deep stuff, Balam Acab are a strange and mysterious entity. This EP is out on emerging Brooklyn-based label Tri Angle so they might be New Yorkers but I couldn't say for sure. What I do know is that this is some seriously spaced out, dub inspired jammage. Musically it sits somewhere between dubstep and drone whilst touching on some of the ideas presented by chillwave, glow-fi and all that bizzle. On first listen it reminds me of High Places due to it's blatant dub/reggae influence merging with the atmospherics of ambient synth pop yet 'See Birds' takes it to a whole new level. The vocals are drifting echoes, beats are reverb heavy but present and tranquil, ghostly synths and electronics provide texture and support the ambience of the vocal delivery and yet I'd still consider this dance music, slow dance music but dance music never the less. It's fun in a bonged out of your mind kinda way and will most certainly intrigue those of you interested in the further developments of this emerging ambient pop sound we are hearing so much of recently. Real tasteful stuff.

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*The inaugural release from emerging Brooklyn-based label Tri Angle, Balam Acab's See Birds EP presents an optimistic yet
haunting glimpse of a droning future.
*COMMENTS:
“One of the most promising indications of this new sound’s potential” – Pitchfork

"See Birds", a track that ought to appear on Balam Acab's forthcoming debut EP for Tri Angle, is staggering and woozy, with a
buzzing bassline riding a sludgy, syrup-guzzling beat that sounds like Massive Attack foreshadowing a Jason Voorhees kill
scene. Blaring tones increase and decrease in volume like passing planes between a ominous synth sample that feels like some
kind of futuristic warning tone. And above it all, a high-pitched disembodied female vocal forms a spectral melody, calling
out to the low-pitched male moan that serves as its shadowy counterpart. It's one of the most promising indications of this
new sound's potential: a memento mori in song.“ – Ryan Schreiber: Editor of Pitchfork

“For all we know, this band could have been lurking around in the depths of dub’s inner circle—the secret influencers
of dubstep as an entire genre. But they’re newer than that, so “See Birds” works as a summation of what’s going on
right now: Salem melding goth with everything, mysterious white guys hiding in their rooms and creating ominous club music
surrounded by stale weedsmoke and a million moldy records we’ve never heard.” – The Fader