Another artist featuring for the third time on this blog, BLAB has won a special place in my musical heart. She (aka Fran) is a purveyor of supremely well judged, honest lo-fi post punk, pop-punk ... whatever you want to call it - it's just good, satisfying music.
'Gemini' continues BLAB's line of recent releases which showcase the development of a really intriguing hybrid style. With its mellower, filtered sound, its perhaps more along the lines of Insurance than 'Eton Mess' or Casual Sex; a continuation of a creative journey which I'm sensing is building towards a very exciting album (I really hope so anyway) ... It's basically a very full and well crafted piece of music, but, although there's evidently plenty of production here, Gemini sticks true to BLAB's bedroom punk ethos.
The song opens with mellow, gorgeously softened, fuzzy guitar and a drum-machine beat, before the vocals begin. To me, what always takes BLAB's music the next level is her vocals and in Gemini, you've got a double, triple treat, with low and high harmonies featuring frequently across the track. It's also in these vocals that BLAB's punk aesthetic starts to emerge: Fran sings coyly and in a tone verging on the ominous, as she explores the wonderfully frustrating world of human character. The pace stays mellow throughout, but there's intensity in her almost falsetto harmonies, and the high guitar hooks which support them.
'Gemini' is a song about unrequited love, and maybe about overthinking, too - that irresistible urge to analyse a new crush, and read so much into everything. There's some great imagery and metaphor in the lyrics here: I really like the idea of the "mantlepiece of my mind", for example. Fran describes Gemini as a song she hopes "people can two-step and cry to" at the same time", and I totally get that. The track somehow manages to be at the same time heart-rending and yet intensely enjoyable. Oxymoronic maybe, but it absolutely works.
I'm always excited when I hear about another BLAB release, and I've never been disappointed either. This time, and once again, BLAB has released something special - it's interesting and fun but with her classic edge and attitude.
Gemini was released on 12 November on Cool Thing Records. Look out for BLAB on her rescheduled tour dates in 2022 ...