Bambara — the Bateh brothers, Reid and Blaze, singer/guitarist and drummer respectively, and bassist William Brookshire — have been evolving their midnight-black noise into something more subtle and expansive ever since the release of their 2013 debut Dreamviolence. Formed in Athens, Georgia the band have consistently expanded their sound and with it an audience marked by a cult-like devotion to the band. With 2018’s Shadow On Everything, a narrative concept album that was their first release on stalwart Brooklyn independent Wharf Cat Records, the band made some major artistic strides. The album drew attention from critics, being dubbed “a mesmerizing western gothic opus” by NPR, and earning praise from likes of VICE, Bandcamp, The Quietus, and Spin, and from Bambara’s growing circle of peers, with ex-tour mates like IDLES’ Joe Talbot and Daughters’ Alexis Marshall highlighting the album as one of the best of the year in interviews. Bambara are currently preparing to release their follow up, Stray, which is due out on Wharf Cat on February 14. It’s an album built on dedication, creative risk taking and an immersive approach to creative expression – principles and processes that pay off in a release that represents a monumental leap forward for the band.
(Photo Credit: Kevin Condon)
