by Charlie Pecorella (@oatbituary)
What does it mean to “pool blood” – is it a gentle, guiding command, a solemn collection of heart-stuff? Ask Maryam Said, an indie artist based in Toronto, who spins lush, rumbling acoustic pop melodies from their fingertips, and reels the jewelry box ballerina that represents poolblood’s theres_plenty_of_music_to_go_around.zip EP. Accompanied by Drew Harmon, Allen Tate, El Kempner, Giffin Brown, Eliza Niemi, JJ. Harley, Avalon Tassonyi, and Ellis Ludwig-Leone, Said’s gift brings in several talented musicians keen on realizing their expansive vision.
Following their intimate debut album, mole, poolblood continues to construct soulful sonic retreats. This three-track EP – visually contained in a plain musical box, painted pink, flecked with gold, holding a blue ballerina with one arm hanging overhead in a moon-like crescent, the other an outstretched invitation – features two new tracks, “wringer” and “resin,” recorded at Better Company, followed by a live version of their previously cut gem “twinkie,” recorded at Tibet Studio.
Imagine Said’s fingers sliding over the fretboard as the flipping pages of a diary sprawled out on a freshly made bed. Their golden vocals swell and wind with grace through twinkling, stellar lyrics. As a listener, you are left yearning to place yourself on the pulse of poolblood’s unique style. It’s a quiet release, prismic oil streaming along the curb after rain. Each track enraptures in attempts to measure an uncertain future from metrics of kindness, color, and shape. Said’s tireless questions ring true in steady strums. String, harp, and saxophone arrangements from Ellis Ludwig-Leone cradle the soft vacuum that Maryam fills with their thoughtful compositions. poolblood’s music is the space where wonder lives.
Revisiting their debut LP in the closing track, “twinkie (live at tibet studio records),” Said sings, “The future is a distant light, muggy and shy.” With this dazzling, open-ended premonition, listeners are left on their knees in hopes that in what’s to come of this world, plenty more music from poolblood is bound to come with it.