Bleach Lab - Lost in a Rush of Emptiness
Dream Pop – Released September 22, 2023 – 11 songs, 43 mins
ROZ
No, this isn’t another band with “Beach” in its name, although historically the bands I’ve come across with that word in their name have been quite good. Bleach Lab (with an “L”) is a relatively new band on the scene and they have the social media numbers to prove it; 1,500 followers on X, 2,000 followers on Facebook and 66,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. If I were to bet on whether or not any of our followers have heard of the foursome, I firmly believe that “no they have not” would be a safe bet to make. It’s this aspect of the music reviewing process that gets me excited the most. This is, quintessentially, what Too Sweet Reviews is all about. This is Bleach Lab’s Lost in a Rush of Emptiness.
Indie rock, dream pop. Bleach Lab’s sound isn’t exactly new to TSR, and it most definitely won’t be the last time we come across it, either. The album was produced by a talented woman that goes by the name of Catherine Marks, an individual who not only has helped produce albums for the likes of Manchester Orchestra and Alanis Moresstte, but also holds the sole producer credit for boygenius’ first studio album The Record (other than the credits for the three women in the band themselves). Quite the resume. With that revelation uncovered, parallels can definitely be drawn. The soft spoken, disarming sonics I’ve found on indie rock sensation discography’s ring just as true on Lost in a Rush of Emptiness, and the neat pop structure packages makes the album just as digestible the tenth time as it was on the first.
I personally get a strange yet familiar feeling as I go through the album again and again and again. The washed out reverb vocal effect splayed across lead singer Jenna Kyle’s performance fills every nook and cranny of the stereo space, a production choice that I find both personally and also objectively pleasing to the ear. The music all throughout the listing brings about an almost intoxicating effect for me, harkening back to the time I stumbled upon and fell in love with Mazzy Star many years ago. As the listening sessions continue on, the four-piece band ensures me that these ethereal soundscapes are just the beginning, and that the soul and heart of the band lies even deeper still.
When oceans collide, there’s a different blue on each side. Now that’s a damn good lyric, and one that especially hits close to home for anyone who can relate to the underlying message. This leads me to my main point, which is this: while any four-piece could slap enough echo and delay on their setup to drown a small village, it is the songwriting that really takes everything to the next level. Songwriting efforts are shared among bandmates in Bleach Lab rather than by a designated member, a creative strategy that leads to a more diverse set of backgrounds and experiences to pull from. Counting Empties goes over bassist Josh Longman’s issues with substance abuse and the degradation of personal relationships because of it. Songs such as Saving All Your Kindness and Nothing Left To Lose reflect on Jenna Kyle’s relationship issues and emotionally abusive entrapments. Call it a creative form of group therapy, call it whatever you want - it makes for a damn good record.
Introspective lyricism layered on top of indie rock and dream pop sensibilities. Bleach Lab’s Lost in a Rush of Emptiness is itself a hidden gem nearly lost in the ever-expanding universe we know as the music industry. This high quality freshman effort shows a lot of promise for the young band, and I’ll be sure to keep an eye on their journey from this point forward.
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Favourite Song: Life Gets Better
REID
Everyone pushes for their big break in the climb within the ultra-competitive music industry. Last week we reviewed the return of pop punk legends with 21.2M monthly listeners on Spotify. This week’s band is in its infancy with their first studio release and a whopping 67.4K streams in the same timeframe. Me and the boys would be thrilled to report a ‘K’. Go out for celebratory drinks with an ‘H’! Not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison but hey, the grind is real. Will this be the coming out party for Bleach Lab?
Sad girl rock is a fruitful genre these days and Too Sweet Reviews has reviewed many excellent artists at different stages of their career. Soccer Mommy is just getting started, Mitski is a young veteran, the ladies at boygenius are huge and still rising – to name a few. The thirst is there and these women are quenching it like Gatorade with a hangover. Luckily the styles vary and Bleach Lab is another for the list with vocalist, Jenna Kyle, leading the charge.
The two-week listening experience of ethereal dream pop that is Lost In A Rush Of Emptiness was filled with countless comparisons as the influences felt endless. Alvvays, Middle Kids, Death Cab For Cutie all came to mind as the chill collection of tracks skipped through its 44-minute runtime. The most impressive part is its consistency, giving a natural album feel that never gets too high or too low, sticking to their strengths and delivering without misstep. While a musical correlation to the artists above is nothing but positive, Bleach Lab’s sound is ultimately and undeniably their own.
To describe their sound I’ll call on my favourite, Counting Empties. The light drumming and casual guitar strumming along with the eerie synth leads to Jenna’s deadpan vocals giving a feeling I can only describe as comforting. It picks up slowly with a mood-setting bass and melodic guitar, creating a warm sound to compliment the sad lyrics.
I was sad before I was lonely
You’re just saying words, you don’t know me
I was sad before I was lonely
Before you even knew me
Before you even knew me
From there we get a beautiful payoff at 1:21 as the emotions overflow into a truly pleasing soundscape. Misery loves company and Bleach Lab is inviting.
The album is filled with lyrics painting an unenviable picture of Jenna’s love life and overall psyche. The writing is excellent and the following from Smile For Me stood out as particularly brilliant.
There’s a knock at my door
It must be the Devil calling
The devil calling
There’s a knock at my door
It must be the devil calling
Didn’t know you were calling
(Is that you Roz?)
Lost In A Rush Of Emptiness may lack wow-factor but it’s consistent, polished sound deserves praise. Bleach Lab’s debut effort is the mark of a band who are surely on the rise and I’m curious what that Spotify monthly listener number looks like a year from now.
Overall Rating: 7.8/10
Favourite Song: Counting Empties
LUNDI
Today marks three months since TSR last wrote about a debut album or an up and coming band. Having started this whole venture with finding new music as a primary goal this look back surprised me. Perhaps it’s all the gram reels. Maybe 2023 is a lacklustre musical year. Or perhaps, and most likely, we’re all becoming pickier as our tastes refine with each album. But that makes agreeing all the more more special and this week TSR finally found some common ground with UK’s dream pop outfit Bleach Lab.
Bleach Lab are unspectacular. If that provides shock value then job somewhat done, but the main intent of that statement is to drive home what they are, because they’re damn good at it. They aren’t Michelin dining, they’re the comfort food you make at home. They aren’t designer clothing, they’re your favourite sweatpants. They don’t wow, but they are certainly special. Lost in a Rush of Emptiness is the rare album that can be described as a crowd pleaser, one that can be played front to back in nearly any situation. And trust me, as someone who frets over those around him enjoying the music that’s playing, finding those gem albums is a difficult task. That my friends is elite company.
Bleach Lab’s debut is a seamless integration of sounds with meticulous placement of every note. Perhaps the bands greatest strength is their hand in glove chemistry that exudes from the musical display. Led by an all star vocal performance from Jenna Kyle the foursome develop their own ethereal world that thrives on the delicate soundscapes of dream pop. The soothing vocal is perfectly weaved with polished drum arrangements and delicate synth like guitar riffs resulting in a calm yet encompassing record.
And for this to be Bleach Lab’s debut is downright astonishing. It has the production and mixing qualities of veteran performing their craft. You can’t ask for much more. Not only does Emptiness build a very stable floor, it’s a fire work in the night sky, impossible to ignore. The future is indeed bright and with some risk and experimentation, the band is surely to be one of the next big outfits creeping up festival posters and selling out venues.
Lost in a Rush of Emptiness is an extremely pleasing and collective experience. While Bleach Lab won’t blow you away with innovation just yet, their debut radiates with a musical skillset that signals a band surely on their way to bigger and better things.
Overall Rating: 7.6/10
Favourite Song : All Night