bail bonds - “CALIFORNIA KING”
bail bonds from the USA have just released the moody and experimental “CALIFORNIA KING.” The track is not easy to place in a single genre, as it effortlessly blends psych, electronic, and alt pop elements to create something lush and enchanting.
“CALIFORNIA KING” is built around a relaxed drum groove that ebbs and flows as the track progresses. Warbling cassette tape coated electric guitar shimmers and glows softly whilst bass pulses warmly underneath the arrangement, creating a sense of tension. This tension is allowed to build until we hit the chorus sections, where darker, moodier tones start to permeate, creating a satisfying dynamic contrast.
“CALIFORNIA KING” is also notable for the myriad of ear candy and effects that gorgeously fill the stripped-back arrangement. These vary from delay, reverb, reverse effects, splashes of synths, and warping vocal layers. These effects are a pleasure to listen to and underscore the control and thought given to this song in order to make it something strikingly unique.
The vocal performance allows this song to breathe. It is gentle and intimate, yet it has that undeniable psychedelic feel, thanks to the vocal effects employed. These vary from low octave doubling to distorted warping. Through all these effects, there is a rich sense of emotion in the delivery, which is the icing on the cake.
bail bonds explains the meaning behind the song: “The song explores the question, ‘How many compromises can you make before you're fundamentally compromised?’ In America, all the money is blood money. We're forced to play a game we don't want to win by rules we don't agree with. The only thing that can make it all ok is the only thing that makes anything ok—we find love and we cultivate it like our life depends on it because it does. The song is ultimately a love letter to my girl—I'll play the game, I'll chase the money, I'll dance with the darkness and run the rat race to create this life for us. I'll do it all because the only thing I know for sure is that with (her) by my side, that darkness will never become us.”
“CALIFORNIA KING” is simply a sonic treat that effortlessly blends genres. It is the first song from a forthcoming three-track collection called Triptych 001: The Bluebird.