We got an interesting promo over the transom last week and today sees it released in all of those platforms where one can hear music, with a nod to Bandcamp or the iTunes store if you actually want to send more than $0.0039 to the artists in question. Their name is Dove Blood but they are not leaning too heavily into the Goth thing. Nadya Grace sings and plays bass. Avi Bonnerjee sings and plays guitar, and Alicia Berbenick sings and plays everything else. All three are creatives with apparently not enough outlets [and the commensurate free time], so they had begun Dove Blood during the pandemic and have seen it thorough until now. Let’s listen to their first shout out to the world.

Dove Blood: Delirious – US – DL [2024]

1. Delirious
2. Manic
3. Wdy
4. All The Time

The title track was a brief interlude that sounded like a lullaby and it lasted just long enough to set a tone that the rest of the songs cheerfully ignored as they mapped out a wide swath of sonic territory. The live drums and languid tremolo guitar of Avi gave Ms. Grace a platform for her bass make its presence felt as her dreamy vocals were touched lightly by synth glissandos courtesy of Alicia. The vibe was mostly organic and invested in a dreampop vibe that had me thinking of that fantastic second album by ‘Til Tuesday. Call and response backing vocals from Avi lent a delicate air to the middle eight. So that was it. We had this band sorted, right?

Not so fast. Brittle drum machine coupled with an up front, Post-Punk bass line then had the distorted guitars buzzing like flies on acid as it all opened up “Wdy” with a sound very far removed from what we had first heard. Then the aggressive squirts of synthesizer showed that Alicia wasn’t wearing a Chris + Cosey t-shirt in their promo shots just to score hipster points. This one was even one for the dance floor. Even though they made room for a paradoxically lovely guitar solo in the middle eight.

The drum machine was dialed down to “whipcrack” tempo on the closer “All The Time.” Sustained guitar added some Frippery to the pensive vibe as the number made overtures to a Shoegaze sound. As the song swelled to its compulsive climax, the bell-like synths and string synths gave the track a rush to a sort of density that was a first for the songs on this EP. And then it was all over as we may sample it all below.

It was gratifying to hear a female singer who was singing like a woman, instead of the “breathy girl” vibe that’s been sadly in vogue for far too long for my taste. The band capably took in several genres with word that its album [being recorded right now] is moving further afield. Dove Blood are definitely crafting music for your night time. Whether it’s dark, humid, and intense with flashes of heat lightning, or breezy and pastoral, they are there to support you with these songs. They can be yours for $4.00 on the sales platforms, but don’t forget to top up if you opt for Bandcamp. We all need encouragement in these dark times. DJ hit that button!

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