Released September 29, 2023

Decent / Strong 8

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“When my broken heart speaks, it isn’t me”

 

The Holes That House the Seeds is the 36-minute full-length debut album from Blood at Ease, a band led by Battle Creek’s Bailey Miller. Before I go any further, I need to give a little bit of context as it would be unfair of me to do so:

 

I had first ever gotten acquainted with Bailey back in around 2017, having first been grabbed by his musical talent through a Neil Young cover at an open mic gathering I frequented at a now-defunct bar called The Warehouse in Battle Creek. Later on we’d go on to become very close, and I even got the wonderful opportunity to join the then-new Super Tan as the drummer, even though I had never played drums seriously before then. I had to leave the band due to a move out of my control forcing me back to South Florida for two years, but I never forgot the experiences I gained through my tenure of being in that band; specifically, it was there that I first learned about the thriving underground music scene happening in Kalamazoo and what brought me to the city as a newfound resident. Super Tan dissolved and from the ashes arose Ocean Floors and although the idea of an album was more than probable, being backed by a few singles released on streaming, it never did see the light of day (not counting the two albums that were released under the moniker, but were completely self recorded and produced) and left fans like me all the more wanting.

 

Enter Blood At Ease. A new project led by Miller which initially lacked a complete social media presence and which currently sees his biggest lineup of musicians yet, featuring Trey Marks of The Krelboynes and notable scene drummer Brendon Infante. With a band in place and songs set in stone, they released their full-length debut, The Holes That House the Seeds, on September 29, 2023.

 

Someone who has been a fan of Miller’s music from past projects can see that there’s a new level of maturity displayed on this record, lyrically and vocally. This record features his best vocals so far. I particularly love the “Lies!” moment in “I’m Here For You” towards the end. A small detail, but one that ends up being so potent and memorable and you can really hear the emotion behind his voice. Sonically, I’m reminded of bands like Songs: Ohia and Big Thief, but the band has a sound all their own.

 

Going through the tracklist, we start with “Goliath” which does a great job at setting the tone for the album. Moody but not melodramatic, fierce but in control. The gazy slide guitar melody still lingers in the air until the next track, “I’m Here For You” is introduced by the strumming of a nylon string guitar. My favorite thing about this track would probably be the short freak outs that happen just for a moment after the chorus, breading up the upbeat instrumental. I don’t know what more can be said other than I feel that this song is perfect for being played in the middle of a long drive in the sunny countryside. Rounding out the first half comes “How To Swim”, a moodier track with a more bare-bones instrumental than the two songs before it, with inspired strumming on guitar and lovely string embellishments throughout. I also really enjoy the timeless “make my grave” line in the song.

 

The second half kicks off with the only single from the album (IIRC), “House the Seeds”. The song has a really cool sonic palette with the drums being super upfront and punchy but it’s backed by really distant washed out guitars and vocals, which later welcome in a simple yet electrifying lead that sticks around up until the end. Finally, we have the 15 minute closer, “Broken Hearts Like Spells”. For anyone who has seen the band live, they will definitely recognize the track as being the final one played in their sets, and every time I’ve been fortunate enough to hear it in a firsthand setting I’m always humbled by the power it brings. Quiet verses and explosive courses, all which climax into a loud and noisy sonic exorcism featuring waves of sound punctuated by everything from horns to synths and an unstable tambourine. The chaos subsides for the final moments of the record: “when my broken heart speaks, it isn’t me”.

 

The lyrics here are fantastic as well. Relatable themes paired with vivid imagery, Miller really shows off his lyrical chops on here, throwing in a sing-a-longable line here and there making it easier to engage with such a dense piece of art.

 

The Holes That House the Seeds has to be my favorite album to come out of the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo scene, not just this year, but maybe ever so far. Like I said, I’m biased, but I also believe that criticism in music plays an important role, and any critiques I have with this record don’t hold enough weight in water for me to mention outside of “I can’t wait to see what comes next”. Not sure what more I can say about it at this point other than that if you haven’t listened yet, I can’t recommend it enough.

 

Track ratings:

 

1. Broken Hearts Like Spells (9/10)

2. I’m Here for You (9/10)

3. Goliath (8.5/10)

4. How to Swim (8.5/10)

5. House the Seeds (8/10)

 

[bandcamp link]

https://bloodatease.bandcamp.com/album/the-holes-that-house-the-seeds-2

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