Promise
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
A highly creative outfit spearheaded by the multi-instrumentalist Jacob Cloutier, as Vanilla Bloom he brings along Kenneth Zierman and Nolan Juusola for this sometimes otherworldly pop adventure that rarely sits in one place for very long.
“Sour Patch” starts the listen with plenty of atmosphere, where falsetto singing, warm drumming and jangly guitar make for a very distinct pop landscape, and “Ithaca (On & On)” follows with haze of vocal effects amid rhythmic drumming and buzzing synth that’s both cautious and adventurous.
In the middle, “Metro Transit Gloria” enters firm electro-pop territory with its video game-esque noises amid the dreamy textures, while “Ticket To Ride” offers a colorful, psyche-pop display of soulful, sonically playful gestures that are percussion friendly.
Arriving at the end, “Renegade” unfolds with 2 tracks of soothing, cinematic sounds that are beat filled, warbly, experimental and soaked in pop melodica, and “Ourora Borealis” exits the listen with charming group vocals alongside a retro spirit of timeless pop.
A record that thematically surrounds the progression of the inner child, Cloutier and company mash genres and layer their vocals with a fascinating attention to detail on this truly unclassifiable listen.
Travels well with: Blynd Birds- Songs To Sink Yachts To; Trippy Hearts- Lacewing