Birthmarks weaves Bambara’s darkest album yet with post-punk grit
Brooklyn post-punk trio Bambara returns with
Produced by: Graham Sutton
Following their 2020 breakthrough Stray, Birthmarks finds Reid Bateh (vocals/guitar), Blaze Bateh (drums), and William Brookshire (bass) refining their vision. Inspired by Reid’s reflections on reincarnation—not in a mystical sense, but as a gritty exploration of past lives and lingering ghosts—the album unfolds a decades-spanning narrative steeped in frontier violence, dive bars, and women bound by fate and snakebites.
After a year of writing, the band headed to Ramsgate, England, in June 2023 to record with Bark Psychosis’ Graham Sutton, only to spend another year in Brooklyn reshaping the tracks. The result tempers some of their feral rock energy in favor of a sinuous, cinematic sound, drawing influence from Massive Attack, Portishead, and Cocteau Twins.
From the stormy opener ‘Hiss,’ which pulls listeners into a hotel room tryst, to the jagged, trumpet-spiked clang of ‘Letters From Sing Sing,’ the album is a study in tension and atmosphere. ‘Pray To Me’ surges on ghostly guitars, while ‘Face of Love’ drifts into hypnotic, DJ Shadow-inspired terrain. Reid’s lyrics, forged from a breakup and a five-month writing purge, oscillate between raw intimacy—like the conversation-fueled ‘Because You Asked’—and a mythic, Mulholland Drive-esque world of depraved men and ethereal women. Closer ‘Loretta’ twists the narrative’s conclusion, demanding a second listen.
Blaze says:
“We have to start an album and let it find us. See what happens and let the music evolve us, instead of forcing ourselves to evolve in a certain prescribed way.”
With Birthmarks, Bambara welcomes you into their darkest corners—where post-punk grit meets haunted cinematic echoes—proving they can evolve without losing the raw pull that defines them.
Standout Songs: ‘Letters to Sing Sing,’ ‘Holy Bones,’ ‘Because You Asked,’ and ‘Loretta.’
Release Date: March 14
6.5
Connect with Bambara:
Wait! Before you leave, we’d like to share something important with you. Our site is an independent, small platform that is committed to providing valuable content without any pesky ads. However, to keep the site running smoothly and continue delivering quality content, we rely on the generous support of users like you.
By contributing a small donation, you can help us maintain our ad-free environment and ensure that our site remains a reliable resource for everyone. Your support matters and makes a significant difference in our ability to thrive and grow.
Thank you for being a part of our community, and we truly value your support!
To make a donation, please click here: Buy us a beer!
More music reviews from the team at The Daily Music Report can be found here.