Dead Heart Bloom
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
With the EP trifecta behind them, Strange Waves finds Skalsky and company in an even more explorative phase. His narratives of battered hearts and souls in peril, sung in Lennon-esque vocal tones, are flecked with moments of offhand brilliance. - Stomp and Stammer
With the EP trifecta behind them, Strange Waves finds Skalsky and company in an even more explorative phase. His narratives of battered hearts and souls in peril, sung in Lennon-esque vocal tones, are flecked with moments of offhand brilliance. - Stomp and Stammer
The band is simply so proficient at retrofitting wistful, shoegazey moods to British Invasion hooks that the result is instantly likable, an eerily smooth assimilation of the Beatles and The Bends." - eMusic
The band is simply so proficient at retrofitting wistful, shoegazey moods to British Invasion hooks that the result is instantly likable, an eerily smooth assimilation of the Beatles and The Bends." - eMusic
Brace yourselves for the triumphant return of Dead Heart Bloom. The buzz-worthy indie duo (for now) seek to solidify their standing with the second of three EPs, Oh Mercy, to be released on November 4th through KEI Records.
Coming mere months after the acclaimed release of Fall In, Oh Mercy promises to sustain the energy that has an industry humming. Juxtaposing Fall In's buoyant perspective, Oh Mercy delivers Dead Heart Bloom to the darker corners of the creative spectrum both lyrically and musically. - CMJ Magazine
Brace yourselves for the triumphant return of Dead Heart Bloom. The buzz-worthy indie duo (for now) seek to solidify their standing with the second of three EPs, Oh Mercy, to be released on November 4th through KEI Records.
Coming mere months after the acclaimed release of Fall In, Oh Mercy promises to sustain the energy that has an industry humming. Juxtaposing Fall In's buoyant perspective, Oh Mercy delivers Dead Heart Bloom to the darker corners of the creative spectrum both lyrically and musically. - CMJ Magazine
Boris Skalsky, once a key member of the now defunct space rockers Phaser, has kept the better elements of that band and crafted a solo record under the moniker Dead Heart Bloom. This self-titled release is quite refreshing because the majority of Dead Heart Bloom plays like a film soundtrack with Skalsky's smoky vocals cooing and sometimes grooving over a teary orchestra. Most bands couldn't get away with this, but Skalsky succeeds admirably because he keeps it simple. Orchestral tracks are orchestral tracks and rock tracks are rock tracks. He doesn't make the mistake too many gifted musicians make by combining the two genres into an emotional hodge-podge. For instance, 'Sodom' is a healthy, dancy pop song with a writhing bass groove and some nice strings near the end, but the song always stays a pop song. The next track 'I Hope I Stop Fading' is a straight orchestral track with Skalsky softly crooning his laments. It's gorgeous and there isn't one electric guitar or a single drumbeat. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. - Under The Radar Magazine
Boris Skalsky, once a key member of the now defunct space rockers Phaser, has kept the better elements of that band and crafted a solo record under the moniker Dead Heart Bloom. This self-titled release is quite refreshing because the majority of Dead Heart Bloom plays like a film soundtrack with Skalsky's smoky vocals cooing and sometimes grooving over a teary orchestra. Most bands couldn't get away with this, but Skalsky succeeds admirably because he keeps it simple. Orchestral tracks are orchestral tracks and rock tracks are rock tracks. He doesn't make the mistake too many gifted musicians make by combining the two genres into an emotional hodge-podge. For instance, 'Sodom' is a healthy, dancy pop song with a writhing bass groove and some nice strings near the end, but the song always stays a pop song. The next track 'I Hope I Stop Fading' is a straight orchestral track with Skalsky softly crooning his laments. It's gorgeous and there isn't one electric guitar or a single drumbeat. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. - Under The Radar Magazine
The Band: Dead Heart Bloom
The Buzz: Brainchild of singer/songwriter Boris Skalsky, DHB deliver giant-sized guitar noise topped with gianter-size religious cynicism.
Listen If: You think the National and American Music Club are upbeat.
Key Track: "Come Back," a sublime combination of dour, druggy vocals and corkscrewing guitars. It couldn't be easier to hear, either: the band is giving away their entire EP for free.
- Rolling Stone
The vocal harmonies on Chelsea Diaries are incredible... absolutely... incredible. This band's vocal work is reminiscent of some of the better folk/pop bands from the 1970s and 1980s... but the music itself is by no means retrospective. Considering the fact that this band is currently treading in the musical undercurrents, it is surprising how much commercial potential this album has. Instead of underground artsy junk, these folks write real tunes with great lyrics. The melodies are outstanding and far beyond what we normally hear from unknown artists. The folks in Dead Heart Bloom have a real winner on their hands here. Our only complaint is that by the time the disc ended, we wanted to hear more. Killer tracks include "Who Will You Love," "Chelsea Song #2," "New York City Heat," and "The Up and Down." Really nice packaging includes a beautiful color photo booklet. Great stuff, recommended... - Babysue
Back in 2002 one of my favorite releases was from a Washington, DC band called Phaser; a group that created lush, swirling and dreamy music. The main man behind Phaser, Boris Skalsky, created a new project in 2005, called Dead Heart Bloom in New York City. While the self-titled debut was a little more straightforward in the vein of Beach Boys meets David Bowie, the music was still great. In fact, it was good enough for Dead Heart Bloom to be nominated for a Shortlist Music Prize.
Now, several years later, Dead Heart Bloom has returned to the scene with a series of EPs that will be released this year. His first, Fall In, picks up right where the previous two releases left off. Opening with the bombastic "Is This The Way?," the shoegazer guitar work and Boris' signature yearning vocals are spot on. The more upbeat "Come Back" is up next, conjuring up images of Beck's Sea Change or Mercury Rev. "Our Last Martyr" is wrapped in David Bowie glam, and the EP's closer, "Here We Are," hints at the work of John Lennon.
If Boris Skalsky plays his cards right, he just might have another Short List nod, or better yet win, in the years to come. While the EP is available as a free download off of the band's website, I suggest doing the right thing and throwing a few bucks towards the artist's direction to pick up the physical CD.
- The Tripwire
"Coming on like the ocean, ancient, enveloping, and with just a little darkness beneath, "Flash In A Bottle" opens up In Chains, the final EP in Dead Heart Bloom's trilogy. If this song doesn't move you, check your pulse. In Chains calls to mind a whole host of atmospheric romantics, blending Phosphorescent's dragging pulse, Baxter Dury's combo of pop melody and trippy production (especially on the slinky, insinuating "Halfway Gone"), and Mark Lanegan's sepulchral tone. Nothing else here quite hits the level of "Flash In A Bottle", but Dead Heart Bloom's Boris Skalsky has only himself to blame for setting the bar so impossibly high." - Under The Radar Magazine
On Fall In, Boris Skalsky holds down all the roles of vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist and bassist. "Is This The Way?" opens this EP with drums, atmospheric guitars and spacey vocals, predominant throughout the rest of the five tracks, which also sparingly add flute, clarinet and a horn section along the way. The second song, "Come Back," ups the tempo and energy, but the drums and vocals remain subdued. On "Nothing Will Break Me Now," vocals hover over bare keys, and then are layered with harmonized vocals and a string section of violin, viola and cello. Well-crafted, catchy melodies eventually step forward towards the end, yet are still just as understated as the rest of the record. - CMJ Magazine
March 11, 2009 - Boris Skalsky began Dead Heart Bloom as a solo project in Washington, D.C. in 2005. But by the time In Chains was recorded in 2008 as the final EP in a three part series, Skalsky's one-man band had evolved into a quartet based in Brooklyn. These days, Dead Heart Bloom feeds off the city's energy and Brooklyn's bustling music scene, and stores this for later use in the studio.
Though energetic, In Chains is far from being entirely optimistic or upbeat. "Flash in a Bottle," for instance, has a defeatist tone typical throughout the album, but it is set to a cadence that is just buoyant enough to exude a kind of tired hope and closes with the fragmented line, "broken but proud." In a similar manner, "Impossible New City Dream," the final track on the EP, resembles a lullaby for the downtrodden big city dreamer. Fitting for this tone, Skalsky reports that he chose the name Dead Heart Bloom in a "paradoxical time" in his life to describe "a sort of tension between rebirth and an acknowledgment of a darkness."
In addition to a number of past recordings, In Chains is currently available as free download on the band's personal website.
- National Public Radio
March 11, 2009 - Boris Skalsky began Dead Heart Bloom as a solo project in Washington, D.C. in 2005. But by the time In Chains was recorded in 2008 as the final EP in a three part series, Skalsky's one-man band had evolved into a quartet based in Brooklyn. These days, Dead Heart Bloom feeds off the city's energy and Brooklyn's bustling music scene, and stores this for later use in the studio.
Though energetic, In Chains is far from being entirely optimistic or upbeat. "Flash in a Bottle," for instance, has a defeatist tone typical throughout the album, but it is set to a cadence that is just buoyant enough to exude a kind of tired hope and closes with the fragmented line, "broken but proud." In a similar manner, "Impossible New City Dream," the final track on the EP, resembles a lullaby for the downtrodden big city dreamer. Fitting for this tone, Skalsky reports that he chose the name Dead Heart Bloom in a "paradoxical time" in his life to describe "a sort of tension between rebirth and an acknowledgment of a darkness."
In addition to a number of past recordings, In Chains is currently available as free download on the band's personal website.
- National Public Radio
Discography
Promotional EP (2013)
'Strange Waves' (2010)
'In Chains' EP (2008)
'Oh Mercy' EP (2008)
'Fall In' EP (2008)
Photos
Bio
Dead Heart Bloom was formed by songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Boris Skalsky and guitarist Paul Wood following the dissolution of their previous band, the Washington, DC-based Phaser. Having quickly captured the attention of the indie press and radio, Phaser honed their live act touring with such artists as Interpol, Super Furry Animals, BRMC and Longwave. Hand-picked by drummer Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins to perform in the touring band for his project Skysaw, Boris and Paul further developed their live attack on stage, all the while vowing to solidify the Dead Heart Bloom lineup.
Enter former Longwave drummer Jason Molina. Formally joining the band in the winter of 2011, Jason quickly became integral to Dead Heart Bloom’s sound, adding a rhythmic backbone and notable percussive depth to the material. He explains, "I was first struck by the intimacy of Boris' vocals, and then the fantastically classic melodies hit me. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.”
Boris was raised in a Ukrainian household filled with music. His mother was a classical pianist, and his father, a musical polymath who, as Boris says, “saw no difference between a Schubert lieder and a Beatles song.” In addition to Dead Heart Bloom, Boris is also a classically-trained composer whose works have premiered in the U.S. and abroad, most recently in a retrospective concert in Washington, D.C.
Paul fell in love with the guitar (and guitar effects) as a teenager. He quickly became obsessed with British indie labels such as Rough Trade, Factory and 4AD, eventually working backwards through the early glam of T. Rex, Bowie and Eno and into late sixties Stones and Floyd. Connecting with Boris proved to be a perfect sonic match, and their songwriting partnership has continually evolved.
"My favorite albums have always combined classic songwriting with cinematic atmosphere”, says Paul. “Boris and I both have a natural inclination for big choruses and instrumental effects.”
Dead Heart Bloom is working on a new record to be released in 2013.
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