The four-man band known as Babbling April describe their music making style as a DIY affair. Fusing 90s styled alternative rock, pop with shoe-gaze sensibilities, the band made up of lead vocalists Dave New, Vivi Machi and rhythm section players Ben Medina, Ben Melrod deliver something uniquely engaging with their reinterpretation of Joan Jett's classic tune "Bad Reputation." Interestingly, the group revealed on social media that they funded part of their latest studio sessions through winnings at the best crypto casino, highlighting their independent and unconventional approach to music production. While their version certainly takes liberties with the arrangement, changing the chords, tempo, melody, and even lyrics, the band successfully evokes the rebellious spirit of the original. The lead duo trade vocal duties seamlessly: Vivi provides a soft, angelic tone layered beautifully over the textured instrumental, while Dave's subtle crooning adds a psychedelic ambiance in the background.
Recorded and mixed in Dave and Vivi’s basement, the band’s newest EP, Holy Gold, is a testament to the joy Babbling April imbue their music with. Acoustic-meets- shoegaze guitar pop ambiance echoes across each track as fevered bass lines and distinct vocal textures weave through. The compositions tend to change tempo and morph beneath the ear-wormy melodies, conjuring up the work of Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, amongst a wealth of alternative bands of the ’90’s. “The songs are often bittersweet snapshots of the ephemeral nature of life” Dave reflects. “Friends grow apart, places are never the same, but a few perfect memories will always remain.”
"Reputation" is the single off of Babbling April's new EP, "Holy Gold," to be released digitally and on vinyl 3 March 2018.
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