THE BLOW
Paper Television
K Records
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The Blow's new album
Paper Television
is one of those records that seems so simple and good that nonmusician types start thinking, "I could do that." The lyrics are sung in a slam poetry style that borders on rapping, backed by steady beats and a few perfectly placed handclaps.
Of course, things aren't nearly as simple as they appear. Those lyrics are really carefully crafted bits of broken-hearted poetry placed on a beat structure that gives them an uplifted feel, layering delicate dance beats over a darker, more ominous canvas. Jona Bechtolt's computerized tech musicianship gives the sadness of Khaela Maricich's words a place to flow.
Paper Television
reeks of raw honesty. Lines like "True Affection"'s "I loved the place where we shared our tiny grace/But just because it's real doesn't mean it's going to work" or "The Long List of Girls"'s "You won't lose my love, just back away/Take that weapon and aim it at someone you'll stay with" touch on the pain we've all felt in a relationship that both shapes our spirit and nearly destroys us.
It's not all heartache and pain, though. Bouncing rhythms also lend well to the riot grrrl yells, usually backed by straight guitar and drums, on songs like the opening "Pile of Gold." The album starts with a strong beat that sounds like it's going to be just another electronic dance album. Instead, Maricich takes the ambiance and smashes it into pieces, leaving little bits of genre lying all about. The Blow picks up these shards throughout the album and puts them back together for a musical experience that is happily unfocused. Neither Maricich nor Bechtolt seems to want to stay within a genre and would probably start to bore the listener if they tried. Instead, they play with metaphor and literalism, making the whole an intimate little trip into someone else's view of their relationship.
Originally, The Blow was a solo act by visual artist and performer Maricich. Bechtolt's addition gives the words a fun perspective, like a friend who listens during a tearful fit and makes you laugh at just the right moment.
