Sundressed by Blind Man’s Daughter is a fascinating project that takes inspiration from a wide variety of sources, with a sound that ranges from rock and metal to more alternative and psychedelic at points, never losing the emotional thread at the core of all the songs. Created by Ashley Wolf from Albuquerque, New Mexico, this album exudes an ineffable energy that stands out amongst its contemporaries.
The first track, Mirage Harmer begins with this electronic flowing sound through layers of synths before breaking into heavy rock, dirty electric guitars, and a confident lead vocal. I think this is a clever thematic link between the mirage of the title and the way the song develops, with the early section representing the mirage and the heavy rock representing the harm coming its way. I also really like the retro, eight-bit distortion the track uses towards the middle, it mellows out some of the more potent rock influences and reminds me of the gorgeous early video game soundtracks many people grew up on. It was a cool combination with the grinding distortion of the heavy electric guitars.
Kyhell is another excellent track that features on the album. Beginning with this incredibly intricate guitar part, the vocals match the energy with a sense of power and awe that leads the composition. I feel like the sensitivity of the guitar playing matches the lyrics about “starlight” as if every pluck represents another little bright dot making up the night sky. The song develops more energy as it goes on but it keeps that same sense of awe that made the intro so appealing, instead with heavier instrumentation and a more powerful vocal performance.
The vocals throughout the album are fantastic, managing to ebb and flow with the vibe of the music brilliantly and conveying a sense of style and confidence that allows emotion to peek through as well. That’s a difficult balance to strike and Ashley’s vocals nail it.
Dust and Light is a great track that changes the vibe somewhat, airing more on the psychedelic side, the track uses shiny synths and heavy reverb from the start to differentiate its sound. I also like how the guitar works as a mirror to the lead vocals in this track, switching between a call and response and a counter melody at different points throughout the song.
The last track, Waves, really shows off the powerful vocals that give this project such a unique energy. The guitars and drumming also come out in full force during this final showing, with the guitar again working partially as a call and response with the vocals, emphasising and underscoring some of their highlights.
It’s impressive how such a wide variety of tracks manage to come together in a coherent and consistent package that’s fun to listen to from start to finish. If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock or metal, definitely give this banger a try.
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