"Strange Waves," is the latest addition to Dead Heart Bloom's growing musical repertoire. Self-recorded in the band's Brooklyn studio, the album has been described as "aiming higher than most, with a palpable commitment to classic songwriting along with the honing of a cohesive and unmistakable style". Critical references to the Beatles, David Bowie, 'Bends'-era Radiohead and Pink Floyd have been well-noted and early reviewers have quickly commented on the album's "well-crafted melodies and rich vocals that are both warm and reassuring" with "smart, articulate arrangements". Others have noted "shoe-gazey moods and British Invasion hooks" serving as hopeful back-drops to "narratives of battered hearts and souls in peril".
Dead Heart Bloom was formed in 2005 by songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Boris Skalsky following the break-up of his previous band, the Washington, DC based Phaser. Finding himself with a wealth of material, Boris quickly set about recording tracks resulting in the self-titled debut. With sweeping string arrangements, finger-picked guitars, electronic experiments and lyrics that tended to explore the darker side of the human condition, reviewers favorably compared the record to the "eclectic eccentricity of Beck", the "dramatics of Bowie" as well as often name checking the Beatles, Nick Cave, Pink Floyd and even "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys.
Relocating to New York City in 2006 resulted in a stunning acoustic collection, Chelsea Diaries. Sparse arrangements including piano, acoustic guitars, tambourines and gorgeous vocal harmonies provided a distinctly mature singer-songwriter atmosphere to the songs. Reviewers name-checked Jeff Buckley, Mark Kozelek, early-period Dylan and George Harrison's early solo work and the album cemented the band's reputation as a critical favorite when Chelsea Diaries was nominated as a finalist for the 2008 Shortlist Prize (American version of the British Mercury Music prize) alongside works by Wilco, Arcade Fire and PJ Harvey.
In 2008, guitarist Paul Wood (also ex-Phaser) re-connected with Boris and the two began writing and recording an ambitious 3 EP series which were released through 2008 and 2009. Each EP in the series explored different elements that had been touched on in previous Dead Heart Bloom releases: Fall In (dream pop); Oh Mercy (grit rock); and In Chains (ambient folk). For these recordings, the band was joined by bassist Nathan Goheen and drummer John Hadfield and a number of guest New York musicians, fleshing out the songs with string arrangements, sax solos, and orchestral overdubs. Each EP of the series drew its own favorable reviews. Rolling Stone called Fall In a "sublime combination of dour, druggy vocals and corkscrewing guitars"; CMJ labeled Oh Mercy an "unusual blend of intentionally unsettling bluesy yet aggressive rock guitar driven music"; and Under the Radar magazine said In Chains "comes on like the ocean, ancient, enveloping, and with just a little darkness beneath."
2010's Strange Waves continues the momentum, displaying a strong sensibility leaning heavily towards both well-crafted guitar pop and late night atmosphere. The band again reveals an ability to explore the tradition of 'rock' music yet, anchored by vocalist Boris Skalsky's smoky baritone, achieves a sound "uniquely their own".
Strange Waves is available on CD, LP and digital download formats.
Dead Heart Bloom continues to write and record in New York City and tour around the new release. Their music has been featured on a number of television broadcasts, including the FOX program "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles", a national Above the Influence ad campaign as well as on NBC's "Friday Night Lights", among others.
