Brood22 - this again
On a cold rainy day, stars fall, and your perfume starts to smell different—this is a feeling evoked the first time you play this song: this again by Brood22. This latest release by the Portland-based artist Brood22 is a genre-blending piece that carefully mixes elements from various characteristically indie rock genres like slowcore, shoegaze, jazz, and lo-fi dream-pop. The song starts with a very soft, slow tempo and minimalist arrangements. The organic rhythm of the drums and guitar is layered. And this layering leverages the song as a lo-fi gem with a whiff of jazz. Deep into the beats, the lyrics are whispered in a hushed, dazed tone. The voice is delicate in a way that adds a sense of intimacy to the listening experience. The introspective build-up of the words “I can be anything you want… I don’t know what any of it means… it's this again,” complements the track's gloomy and emotional mood. Midway through the song, strong shoegaze stums make space, and with it comes a sense of belonging. Think of a movie like the 2012 release The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The song is a perfect fit for the cinematic piece as it brings in a sense of high school nostalgia. An end-of-summer loneliness and emotional reckoning. The song also has a characteristically jazzy vibe to it. With the shoegaze strums come the laid-back jazz undertones, apt for a late-night post-breakup listen. The jazz notes add a very unique flavor to this lo-fi production. The song is an intimate and expansive must-listen. With this release, Brood22 has given his listeners a glimpse of his artistry in the face of his genre-blending abilities. This one makes us all curious to hear more from him.
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