For as long as there have been victrolas and hi-fi receivers and strolling minstrels, there have been summer songs. You got your Ella Fitzgerald’s “Summertime” on one end of the spectrum, and your DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” on your other end. After all, it’s a more complicated season than you’d first think: it’s a time when the living is easy, but it’s also a time when you just straight up need a new definition of summer madness. And those songs are great, really — both of them. But sometimes you need something different… something with a more celestial, ephemeral quality, for those late summer nights under the stars with your friends, whether you’re BBQing, skinny dipping, or just plain hangin’ out on the yacht drinking gin and tonics before planning your revenge on whichever wealthy character you want to get revenge against on your vengeance-filled rich people TV show. (There are so many of them, really, take your pick.) Sometimes you need something that combines Ella’s “easy” with Jazzy and the Prince’s “madness.” And for those times, there’s a new project from Asthmatic Kitty labelmates Julianna Barwick and Helado Negro called OMBRE.
OMBRE marries Barwick’s unearthly vocals with Helado Negro’s blissed out dance vibes and births one hell of a summer jam, baby. OMBRE’s debut album, Believe You Me, comes out August 21 via Asthmatic Kitty, and it’s the perfect end-of-summer soundtrack for watching the sweatiest season slip away. But OMBRE is about more than giving you something to blast whilst attractive teens frolic around your boat, pouring champagne down each other’s J. Crew lobster print shorts — the project also gives Ms. Barwick the chance to show off some of her previously-unseen stuff. For, whereas the ambient songstress’ previous work relied mainly on her voice and effects, in OMBRE she rocks out on synths, guitar, electric piano, and my personal favorite… the vibraphone. The definition of summer madness doesn’t get any newer than this.
Believe You Me tracklisting:
01. Noche Brilla
02. Weight Those Words
03. Vistate
04. Dawning
05. Sense
06. Tormentas
07. Cara Falsa
08. The Nod
09. Pausa Primera
10. Noche Brilla pt. 2
• Julianna Barwick: http://www.juliannabarwick.com
• Helado Negro: http://www.heladonegro.com
• Asthmatic Kitty: http://asthmatickitty.com
More about: Julianna Barwick
