EP Review: Bleach Lab – 'A Calm Sense of Surrounding'
Rising indie quartet Bleach Lab explore the five stages of grief on new EP ‘A Calm Sense of Surrounding’.
Born out of navigating the trauma of losing a loved one, through death and a tumultuous break-up, ‘A Calm Sense of Surrounding’ finds Bleach Lab in the trenches of sorrow. Inspired by the movement of the ocean, the band create fluid soundscapes that gently trace the outlines of the EPs changing emotions. “When you think about it, water has so many different characteristics. It can resemble calm, tranquillity and slowness. Yet it can also be utterly terrifying - waves that dwarf you, ships desperate to stay afloat, dangerous predators unknowingly swimming under your feet,” guitarist Frank Wates explains. “We felt this was similar to the whole mess of emotions which grief exposes you to and it subconsciously seeped into our lyrics and soundscapes.”
Placed into these intuitive motions that shift between the reverb-soaked escapism of ‘Old Ways’, floating somewhere far away from reality, and the budding tension of crashing guitars and wailing melancholy in ‘Flood’, is a raw, intimate kind of lyricism. It effortlessly folds itself into heartfelt poetry delivered by Jenna Kyle’s enticing vocals and gives ‘A Calm Sense of Surrounding’ a piercingly emotive touch - “I’m drowning in my skin; you broke me from within” (‘Flood’). But once they’ve sailed the heavy seas of anger, denial and depression, Bleach Lab close the EP on a more upbeat note. To the sound of warm melody lines that feel like the first rays of sunshine in spring, ‘Scars’ sees them finding peace in acceptance and hope in moving forward.
‘A Calm Sense of Surrounding’ is a beautiful nod to Bleach Lab’s dynamic and inspired take on songwriting. Creating tangible images out of something as simple as a body of water, this band has worlds of colour sleeping underneath their fingertips.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven