Romaplasm is an album tailor made for the repeat button, compulsively listenable without being exhausting. Wiesenfeld has managed to make a party record without the hangover, one that’s just as exhilarating as a geeky pleasure — and just as much begging to be shared.
In its own way, Romaplasm is just as rich as Baths' other albums, and the tension between its fantasy world and real-life concerns make for fascinating listening.
It’s all reassuringly consistent and distinctively Baths, managing to be both personal and kinetic as well as fantastical and otherworldly. He may not have switched up his style between albums, but now with this hat-trick of gems, there’s no need.
Geotic’s soft textures are worked into moving vocal-pop songs, here, the most instantly satisfying Wiesenfeld has written.
Without abandoning the conundrums that made Obsidian so emotionally indelible, he’s embellished the worlds of his songs with color from the dreams in which he’s immersed himself over the years. The setting may not be real, but the sentiment rings true.
Romaplasm ... is clearly an album made by an artist who has made the choice to create in a way that works for them, blending innovative electronica with the storytelling of a comic book artist to produce a truly innovative LP.
Romaplasm sees Wiesenfeld embracing computer-generated ebullience while maintaining an understandably hesitant air about him.
Romaplasm is a delightful record. I love how theatrical and story driven a lot of the tracks are. His vocal style definitely isnt for everyone, though. Tracks like Yeoman and Abscond have so much charm and Human Bog is heartbreaking.
This album and baths as an artist is controversial for a lot of people because of the vocals. Personally I compare them to sufjan stevens if he did a lot more vocal effects everywhere. There are falsetto's galore in this project. And honestly? I like it! It's unique to me, but I understand if it's offputting for some. Then comes the punchy production both resulting in extremely exciting songs and also slower quieter driftier ones, which honestly both work quite nicely.
TOP 3 SONGS: ... read more
1 | Yeoman 4:28 | 85 |
2 | Extrasolar 4:37 | 88 |
3 | Abscond 4:35 | 88 |
4 | Human Bog 4:23 | 83 |
5 | Adam Copies 4:02 | 73 |
6 | Lev 2:13 | 80 |
7 | I Form 4:16 | 85 |
8 | Out 3:56 | 78 |
9 | Superstructure 4:03 | 80 |
10 | Wilt 3:41 | 75 |
11 | Coitus 3:32 | 75 |
12 | Broadback 3:36 | 80 |