by Wade Phillips (@wade_phi)
Demonstrating Visible Differences of Height is the latest release from indie project Babehoven— a Philadelphia-based duo of songwriter/vocalist Maya Bon and coproducer/multi-instrumentalist Ryan Albert. In context of their past pair of EP’s (Sleep in 2018 and Solemnis in 2019), Demonstrating Visible Differences of Height establishes Babehoven as a prolific project with remarkable consistency for quality songwriting amidst lots of changes for the band. With previous releases coming from Portland and then Los Angeles, the duo spent three months in isolation in New England to work on the new set of songs before landing in Philadelphia.
In Fall of 2018, Post-Trash writer Lydia Pudzianowksi covered Babehoven’s Sleep EP, writing “on first listen, Bon’s vocals are enough to convince you to buy whatever she’s selling.” The same remains true in 2020. From the very first moments of DVDOH’s opening track “Only So,” Bon’s vocals and lyrics are immediately disarming in their wistful delivery (“Maybe they like me tired” / “I can do that for them”). Featuring a minimal guitar progression propelled by restrained drumming, “Only So” is by far the simplest arrangement from the set of songs but is certainly a standout track thanks to the vocal performance. The masterful break in Bon’s voice on the enunciation of the chorus (“There’s only so much time that I’m willing to waste”) is a perfect example of what sets these songs apart.
Bon notes that the new EP “came out of a form of hibernation, really. Ryan and I spent three months in the Vermont woods recording and mixing…[and] each song took a completely new form once we started. We allowed ourselves to explore each song thoroughly, allowing new tones and concepts to emerge.” This patience and exploration has paid off, as DVDOH is likely their most complete work to date. While both past EPs had standout tracks that immediately hooked me (i.e. “Out Of The Country” from Sleep and “Lena” from Solemnis), DVDOH feels like all five songs belong together and should be listened through front-to-back, both from a sonic and conceptual standpoint.
Discussing the background for the songwriting, Bon notes, “…grief, loss, love, and the search for self-acceptance are key themes in my writing. Pairing pain with humor, I attempt to make light of the often brutal aspects of life.” The simplicity of the songwriting is deceiving in this way, often smartly cloaking difficult topics with lyrical specificity similar to writing I’ve come to expect from recent favorites Rosie Tucker or Runner.
What starts as a mostly easy but melancholy listen on opening tracks “Only So” and “Confident and Kind” quickly turns darker and heavier in nature. “Asshole” marks this transition by adding more dissonant instrumentation in the post-chorus melodies. It’s jarring at first but really fits once the outro of the song occurs; the layers of dissonant guitar lines and synth exude a distressed emotionality but are somehow comforting at the same time. It’s a flawless transition into the last two songs of the EP, both of which amplify the heavier tones. “Maybe I’m Bitter” arrives at the heaviest section of the entire EP shortly after the delivery of lyrics which directly tackle difficulties of loss and self-care (“sick of the toxins in my life” / “so I’m trimming the weeds out” / “I’m trimming the weeds that take take take”). The dissonant drone-like entrance of “Close Behind” is the perfect closer. Bon seems to release a lyrical stream of consciousness that revisits multiple themes from the previous songs (“when I’m feeling tired” / “I want you next to me”). It’s a powerful ending that evokes feelings of entropy or chaos, especially in comparison to the restraint and simplicity of the opening tracks.
“Only So” has definitely been added to my list of Babehoven songs that I return to for repeat listens, and Demonstrating Visible Differences of Height is among my favorite releases I’ve heard this year. That all being said, I definitely look forward to an eventual full-length release from the Philadelphia newcomers after they take time to settle into the move (hopefully with as much creative energy as they’ve brought with past geographic changes).