music+nightlife
File Under ‘Expat’ Four new albums from formerly local artists BY J O R D AN AD AMS • jordan@sevendaysvt.com
V
ermont’s music community is vast compared to the state’s small population. It’s also eclectic. That means Seven Days never runs out of interesting albums to review. In fact, we get more submissions than we know what to do with. This has never been truer than now. One of the only positive things to come out of the pandemic has been a surge of creativity from homebound artists of all disciplines. Musicians have been particularly busy — including formerly local bands and artists. Though our focus tends to be hyper-local, once in a while we like to check up on some of our expatriated musicians — especially after a year like the one we just weathered. Read on for quick hits on four recently released albums from folks who used to call the Green Mountains home.
(Other Minds Records, digital)
Sonic sculptor Henry Birdsey issues a challenge to listeners with his new album, Half-Dragged. Be warned: Half-Dragged is not an easy listen. But those with inquiring minds are likely to be sucked into the four soundscapes included in this 40-minute exploration. Birdsey, a Ripton native now based in Connecticut, is the protégé of Kyle Gann, a New York City composer whose work is often classified as microtonal. Essentially, artists like Birdsey and Gann fixate on tunings — or rather, the spaces between what’s been established and venerated in Western tonality. That’s why Birdsey is referred to above as a sonic sculptor: He carves and shapes sound in palpable ways. Atonality and discord seem to be of great interest to the artist. Opener “HD - [1],” a nearly 12-minute drone, roils with tension and foreboding. Feedback and a grinding, metallic noise populate the equally monstrous “HD - [2],” while “HD - [3]” delves into spiked, tactile acoustic manipulations. Closer “HD - [4]” leans heavily into bass sounds, like a bow being dragged across a cello at a fraction of its normal speed. By giving his songs perfunctory, nondescript titles, Birdsey does little to manipulate the expectations of listeners. People will hear what they hear and make associations based on their own experiences. And that’s what the most stimulating art does. Listen to Half-Dragged at henrybirdsey.bandcamp.com.
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Henry Birdsey, Half-Dragged
Kalbells, Max Heart (NNA Tapes, vinyl, CD, digital)
Indie-dance band Rubblebucket were quite the Burlington party monsters when they were on the local scene in the aughts and early teens. After relocating to New York City several years ago, creative masterminds Alex Toth and Kalmia Traver each began to pursue their own solo projects. Toth became the wry singer-songwriter Tōth, while Traver delved into playful electro-pop with her band, Kalbells. The word “playful” might be overused in music writing, but it’s one of the most apt descriptors of Kalbells’ canon, including the newly released Max Heart. Just in the first few moments of opener “Red Marker,” a song whose title instantly evokes childhood art projects, Traver whispersings a skewed nursery rhyme: “One two three four / Why do we have to go to war? / Five four three / I feel peace when I’m free.” One of Kalbells’ strongest qualities is the ability to pair childlike exuberance with thought-provoking lyrics. Play is a foundational element in childhood, providing a mechanism for kids to
learn about the world and themselves. Kalbells never stopped playing, which can be heard in the group’s whimsy and experimentation. Brooklyn rapper Miss Eaves’ guest spot on the empowering “Pickles” is an album highlight. Her bars are unambiguously affirming: “So mad you can’t have this juicy pickle back / I’m a meal not a snack / Let your lips smack.” Listen to Max Heart at kalbells. bandcamp.com.
Well, they’re starting up again, and we're here to help. Find live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you're a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to jordan@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.