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Bob and Martha are a duo hailing from Brooklyn, New York who just released their wonderful self-titled EP that had me hooked from the first song. They create a unique blend of indie-pop that has some eastern influence as well as a mild flirtation with subdued electronics. The album’s production is top-notch and I enjoyed the professional consistency and flow of the album.
The album starts with the song “I Solemnly Swear I Am Up to No Good” which begins softly with an ear-catching guitar melody. I simply loved the complex and creative rhythms that were presented when the drums kick in. The female vocals have a distinct eastern feel to them that create an exceptional bifurcation of genres. Other songs like “Toothbrush” incorporate themes of lost love and the idea that rather insignificant objects such as a toothbrush left behind by an ex can drum up feelings of longing and loneliness. The highlight of the album is “Pillow Fight” which just a great all around pop song. The last song “Rama” sheds the label of “indie” entirely and ventures into something that sounded more like a very traditional eastern song. This EP was exceptional and I am really excited to see what else this band will offer us in the future. In the meantime I have it on repeat. - The Equal Ground
Bob and Martha are a duo hailing from Brooklyn, New York who just released their wonderful self-titled EP that had me hooked from the first song. They create a unique blend of indie-pop that has some eastern influence as well as a mild flirtation with subdued electronics. The album’s production is top-notch and I enjoyed the professional consistency and flow of the album.
The album starts with the song “I Solemnly Swear I Am Up to No Good” which begins softly with an ear-catching guitar melody. I simply loved the complex and creative rhythms that were presented when the drums kick in. The female vocals have a distinct eastern feel to them that create an exceptional bifurcation of genres. Other songs like “Toothbrush” incorporate themes of lost love and the idea that rather insignificant objects such as a toothbrush left behind by an ex can drum up feelings of longing and loneliness. The highlight of the album is “Pillow Fight” which just a great all around pop song. The last song “Rama” sheds the label of “indie” entirely and ventures into something that sounded more like a very traditional eastern song. This EP was exceptional and I am really excited to see what else this band will offer us in the future. In the meantime I have it on repeat. - The Equal Ground
I used to group psychedelia with ‘weird, obscure, and abrasive.’ These words seem wrought right from the very genre, as if psychedelic drugs and the genre were completely locked together in the world of the weird and loud. But then something came along. It was probably the advent of groups like The Flaming Lips and Animal Collective. These are groups that merged the psychedelic odysseys with the accessibly pop, a later cursory expansion of groups like The Beatles and later Pink Floyd. Of course, this accessible weirdness is a far cry from the bloated drug-weary messes made by Iron Butterfly, with their hallucinogenic jam fests seemingly forever stuck in the 60’s.
To the point: the duo of ‘Bob and Martha’ seem like the perfect exemplary group to wrap your head around modern psychedelic pop. It’s weird, it’s a bit startling, but at its core, it is pop music dressed in fancy mis-matched colors.
Bob and Martha is Aparna Muralidharan and Dan Bonsignore. You can see why they opted for nicknames. Muralidharan drives the vocals of the group’s sound with this intensely dramatic fervor that is as polarizing as it is complex. The group is young and humorous as proven by their online introduction, Bob and Martha was formed in the summer of 2012 in an explosive firework of creativity and kittens.
Kittens? Apparently, their sense of creativity and weirdness is not confined to their music. Their self-titled EP is a tightly-wrapped six tracks, each one taking the oddness of the duo’s initial introduction to a new level. ‘Wolverine’ bleeds gracefully from ‘Toothbrush,’ both songs complimenting a dark brooding sense of incoming, um, darkness. The tracks build tension and strain, as the songs complacently lead into each other building for a tight flow and a sense of fluidity. ‘Pillow Flight’ is an album highlight, a cascading adventure of a song that intensifies as it goes. The whole EP gives off a feeling of Modest Mouse circa- 2002. This is the ‘Moon and Antarctica.’ A gorgeous everlasting epic, in this case, dialed down to six songs that are all fleshed out and complete ideas.
The vocals are pretty damn incomprehensible. In most cases, it doesn’t work. Here, it’s a nice compliment to the weird dynamic actions going on inside the song.
The group is currently circulating in the Brooklyn music scene, focusing their efforts in the DIY world of the Internet, and building a budding relationship with the excellently crafted indie label ‘Go Forth Records.’ The label builds a home for such odd little bands as ‘Bob and Martha.’ In an age where psychedelic music began, the rise of ‘Bob and Martha’ would have faced far more formidable obstacles. Of course, there are obstacles now, but they are a whole different beast. ‘Bob and Martha’ can rest knowing their music is just as accessible as anyone else’s. With a YouTube page, a small label, and an EP that is quite excellent, the group are well on their way to carving out a nook to mediate, jam, and play with kittens.
www.goforthrecords.com/bob–martha.html - The Levity Ball
Bob and Martha are a pretty young duo, not only am I referring to the age of the musicians involved, but the project itself started in 2012 with the intent to blend cool vintage synth sounds together with the more organic feel of indie pop and alternative rock.
The result is a pretty interesting psychedelic pop, with a lo-fi feel. Their debut Ep (selftitled) features 6 tunes and it makes for a great introduction to the band’s soundscape. First track, “I solemnly swear I am up to no good" (Harry Potter reference? ) blends 80s flavored synth with intricate guitar lines and almost mechanical drum beats, increasing in intensity as the song goes on and on - only to bleed in a tension-filled loop that introduces second track “Toothbrush".
It’s cool how this song is basically built entirely on the intro loop, but the pair always finds a way to sort of “play around it", without being repetitive and inconsistent.
Wolverine blinks an eye to post-rock, with an heavily guitar-based composition, and it is perhaps one of the most triply and psychedelic tracks on the entire record. Followed brilliantly by Minute Maid, a brighter track that gives a needed variety, twisting the mood with an upbeat tempo, jangle guitars and perhaps the catchiest vocal hooks on the whole ep. Pillow Fight is quite an interesting mix of the psych-vibe of “Woverine" and the pop approach of “Minute Maid", driven by a really exciting and original guitar riff.
Closing number “Rama" comes quite as a surprise, breaking out of the band’s comfort zone to dive into a folk-rock influenced structure that owes so much to the 70s and late 60s (tambourine and eastern vibes included!)
This EP is full of good ideas and the grit of the recording also gives it some kind of lo-fi charm. If this pair sticks together, interesting things might happen! - The BandCamp Diaries
Bob and Martha are a pretty young duo, not only am I referring to the age of the musicians involved, but the project itself started in 2012 with the intent to blend cool vintage synth sounds together with the more organic feel of indie pop and alternative rock.
The result is a pretty interesting psychedelic pop, with a lo-fi feel. Their debut Ep (selftitled) features 6 tunes and it makes for a great introduction to the band’s soundscape. First track, “I solemnly swear I am up to no good" (Harry Potter reference? ) blends 80s flavored synth with intricate guitar lines and almost mechanical drum beats, increasing in intensity as the song goes on and on - only to bleed in a tension-filled loop that introduces second track “Toothbrush".
It’s cool how this song is basically built entirely on the intro loop, but the pair always finds a way to sort of “play around it", without being repetitive and inconsistent.
Wolverine blinks an eye to post-rock, with an heavily guitar-based composition, and it is perhaps one of the most triply and psychedelic tracks on the entire record. Followed brilliantly by Minute Maid, a brighter track that gives a needed variety, twisting the mood with an upbeat tempo, jangle guitars and perhaps the catchiest vocal hooks on the whole ep. Pillow Fight is quite an interesting mix of the psych-vibe of “Woverine" and the pop approach of “Minute Maid", driven by a really exciting and original guitar riff.
Closing number “Rama" comes quite as a surprise, breaking out of the band’s comfort zone to dive into a folk-rock influenced structure that owes so much to the 70s and late 60s (tambourine and eastern vibes included!)
This EP is full of good ideas and the grit of the recording also gives it some kind of lo-fi charm. If this pair sticks together, interesting things might happen! - The BandCamp Diaries
Discography
Bob & Martha EP- Go Forth Records 2013 (available on itunes, amazon, Spotify)
Photos
Bio
Bob and Martha was formed in the summer of 2012 in an explosive firework of creativity and kittens. Self-described "old souls" from Brooklyn, NY, Aparna Muralidharan and Dan Bonsignore found each other on the internet before meeting at the Zombie Hut in Gowanus, BK. After a few beers, these two kindred spirits bonded over a mutual love of loop pedals (also kittens). After several hours spent in a basement rehearsal space, Bob and Martha emerged, executing poppy yet haunting melodies over complex and multitudinous guitar loops. The sound has since been described as psychedelic pop or experimental meditation-rock, and evokes similarities to Bjork, the Doors, and Modest Mouse. Bob and Martha is currently an active force within the Brooklyn music scene and is planning a small tour of the Northeast in the spring.
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