Mikey Maramag, as the wizard behind Blackbird Blackbird, is laying us back out in the ocean again with his newest single, “Tear” – and if the waters decorating the Bay Area had a soundtrack, I wouldn’t expect to hear much else roll out of them.
Fidgety electronic breaks and their white noise delineate breathy pads that are foaming slightly at the mouth but remaining tranquil all the while, as post-surfing guitar licks drone out with coruscated keys that drizzle down; just enough to cool things off, not enough to bring any fear of mugginess thereafter. The sand stays warm and there’s never a need for a pillow.
As a dreamy taste from his upcoming EP, “Boracay Planet,” there’s no doubt in my mind that a lot of this same complacency is on the way, solely due to Blackbird Blackbird proving time after time that it always gets better.
– Zak Freed
