by Kris Handel
Easy Bammer is the debut record from May Rio, the dreamy NYC indie pop project of May Rio Sembera. Although a bit of a necessary departure into hazy lo-fi bedroom pop due to the unfortunate nature of humanity and a pandemic, the record carries much of the same charm Rio’s band Poppies have in abundance. Sembera's songwriting is upfront and personal but manages to still relate to a wide audience, carried by versatile keyboard sounds and guitar fills that slice in and out. These songs flit around quickly, but Sembera's vocals are sharp and powerful and the creativity she managed to coax out of the performances rarely fail to excite. The atmospheres change repeatedly and there is always a sense of fun and quirkiness that brightens everything around it, even if not of the happiest spaces.
"Butter" is a stunning lead off track with piping synthesizer and a hypnotic programmed rhythm section as Sembera’s barbed coos cascade over the haze. The track is full of squiggles and double tracking of vocals that create a bit of dissonance fitting perfectly into the mood and underlying anger/anxiety. "I C" is driven by Sembera's guitar that matches her drawl, stretching and wavering over a loping bass line that holds down a slightly wobbly foundation. There's a drifting vibe that is easy to get lost in that get occasionally broken by sliding guitar and the sometimes assertive musings in the vocals.
"Reservations" is a very spare lilting exhortation on relationships that don't pan out or die in hesitation and lack of transparency. The layering of Sembera's vocals swooping between registers and approaches are striking, adding an uneasy power that is gripping. "Without" is a drowsy little ballad where she utilizes a deeper register as the multi-tracked vocals create cloud over a bit of a downtempo beat. The layering and imposing breaks in sound make an impact as there is a little bit of an early Fiona Apple vibe that carries the day here.
This is an assured and impressive debut full of steady transitions and impactful moments from a musician who shows off quite a range of ability and talent. These songs flow forth in a way that needs intent listening to feel their impact, but doing so opens up a record that has many surprises that unfold unexpectedly. This is a different animal than her previous work, but just as worthwhile and impactful. There is an ease in the songwriting that belies the intensity and intelligence that envelopes everything here. Easy Bammer just has a way about it that lends an unshakable attachment to it and shows off so much of Sembera's admirable talents.