I Don't Know

by bdrmm

Overview

On their 2020 debut album, British group bdrmm evoked shoegaze and dream pop as well as airy post-punk, space rock, and Krautrock on a set of songs that addressed heavy subjects such as mental health and substance abuse. An unexpected success, the release received BBC Radio One airplay as well as enthusiastic press, and the group eventually toured with Mogwai and signed to their Rock Action label. The band's second full-length, I Don't Know, reflects bdrmm's expanded pool of influences, which still include all manner of dreamy, hypnotic rock music, as well as ambient, dance, and classical, incorporating a greater presence of synths and atmospheric textures. "Alps" opens the album with lightly pulsating kick drums and rising synth clouds, clearing up when lead singer Ryan Smith appears and delivers lyrics expressing hopelessness and despair. When Conor Murray's drumming surfaces, his jazzy versatility complements the subtle sparkle of the glimmering synth sequences. "Be Careful" starts with a clean, tasteful trip-hop rhythm, soon joined by swirling guitars and cautious lyrics. "It's Just a Bit of Blood" melds a driving motorik rhythm to anthemic post-Britpop vocals, pausing as Smith's soaring voice asks "Where did my heart go?" over gently ticking beats, then working back up to a full acceleration. "Advertisement One" is an ambient exploration with Harold Budd-like pianos, droning guitars, nature recordings, and slowly sweeping beats that gradually drift out with the tide. On the bubbly-sounding yet deeply introspective "Hidden Cinema," Smith endlessly mulls over regretful decisions and seeks an exit from the vicious cycle. The more aggressive and noisy "Pulling Stitches" is the album's only track that feels truly deserving of the shoegaze tag, conveying disbelief and alienation with a forceful gale of blown-out guitars. Much like bdrmm's first album, I Don't Know pulls from several different styles but feels united by its lyrical themes and moods. The group still seem like they're working towards achieving a distinctive sound, and it feels like they haven't fully figured out how to integrate some of their more recent influences into their music. Still, the band is consistently inventive, the production is generally fantastic, and the album has several strong moments. ~ Paul Simpson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/30/2023
Label:	Rock Action
UPC:	5051083189064
Rank:	51725

Tracks

1. Alps
2. Be Careful
3. It's Just a Bit of Blood
4. We Fall Apart
5. Advertisement One
6. Hidden Cinema
7. Pulling Stitches
8. A Final Movement