When Doug Bleichner dropped his new solo LP last month, it initially seemed unremarkable compared to some of his previous work, but the Warehouse drummer and multi-instrumentalist seems to subscribe to the old adage, “Still waters run deep.” It may seem trite, or even obvious regarding singer-songwriters, but it’s an accurate assessment of After Love. The record is one of Bleichner’s most straightforward releases to date, while remaining a colorful and insistent addition to his catalogue.
Bleichner decided to release After Love under his own name rather as a Meat record, and though it’s a fine distinction, there’s a different tone to this LP than the rest of his discography. His past records, especially April’s Buff Yuppie EP, were playful, even snarky explorations of pop. But After Love tempers that playfulness with thoughtfulness, as if Bleichner is finally allowing himself to challenge the limits of his own songwriting, rather than simply roam from hook to hook.
Even though the tracks here are less complex musically than those on any Meat album, they carry a greater emotional weight and provide deeper insight into Bleichner’s identity as a songwriter. Throughout the 10-track record, he proves he still has a knack for catchy jams, and even if his multi-instrumental virtuosity is muted in favor of a unified feel, the album still boasts an arresting medley of sounds. Unlike previous works, his voice is unobstructed by reverb wash and despite the lo-fi nature of the recordings (the album was recorded in a crawl space), there is a clarity and purity to the mix. This technique works especially well on the final track, “My Cue,” on which his vocals delicately pull the lively drums and bass together into an ecstatic melody.
Bleichner’s observational storytelling has always run parallel to ’60s and ’70s pysch-folk, but despite being firmly grounded in modern indie pop, these early influences are clarified throughout After Love. At first listen, the lush tones are easy to write off as surf revivalism in the vein of Real Estate, but presented with a full LP, his sonic palette has more in common with Donovan’s more linear material, or even early Crosby, Stills & Nash.
It’s easy to miss the cleverness and spontaneity of earlier material, but Bleichner has always been willing to experiment with different styles. After Love proves that his melancholic observations work just as well with a simple musical backdrop as they do couched in layers of quick wit and nimble instrumentation.
More Info
Bandcamp: dougbleichner.bandcamp.com
Bandcamp: meatbandatlanta.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @meatbandatlanta