by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The past few years have seen Bernardo Ochoa playing many roles in many bands, as a member and collaborator with Dig Nitty, Ackerman, JessX, Daisy The Great, and more, but his main focus has become Panther Hollow, a solo project that’s become increasingly prolific over the past five years. In November of 2020, Ochoa released the excellent Songwiring, probably the most complete vision to date of the project’s expansive territory. At times serene and baroque while other times tend to be fuzzy and blistering, it’s a great way to hear the many sides of the Panther Hollow sound.
With a few stray singles and EPs released since Songwiring, Ochoa remains busy, finding inspiration in his collaborators while forging forward to explore whatever all musical inclinations. “In The Cut” is the latest Panther Hollow song, a track that is short and minimalist, but it also feels as though it’s exactly where it’s meant to be. Ochoa is joined by friend and frequent collaborator JessX, with their soft vocals harmonizing together just beneath a sparse guitar. It’s a simplistic take but their efforts pair together brilliantly, culminating with the miniature refrain, “my fears don't collide with your ones” before an abrupt silence.