Angel
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
This is the 3rd EP from the New York City outfit Lord Baltimore, and it shifts away from the grunge and industrial ideas of their earlier work into a more pop focused listen, but certainly not in any traditional sense.
“Ketamine Tea” starts the listen with a soulful version of indie-rock meets electro-pop that’s heavy on atmosphere and buzzes with some mystery, too, and “Something Like Thirst” follows with an energy that could soundtrack a night at the club, where firm beats, a warm dreaminess and swirling musicianship unfold to tell the true story of a first sexual encounter.
The final track, “Gulf Of Mexico”, leads bare before building into an emotive, almost cathartic display of radiant indie-pop that’s a little hazy, kind of cinematic and aglow in a powerful intimacy and resonates long after the song ends.
A quick but impactful listen that explores organized religion and road trips to the gates of heaven, at under 12 minutes Angel ends entirely too soon, but it gives us a taste of what an LP from Lord Baltimore could resemble, and it sure seems like it would be a very welcomed listening experience.
Travels well with: Fotoform- Horizons; Bizou- Tragic Lover