26 Bats!: “Helicopter”
Check out an excellent new single from local group 26 Bats!
Nothing makes me happier than when my kids’ start to formulate their own opinions about music. My eldest especially (five and a half) has started to formulate strong feelings about what she likes and dislikes which usually amounts to her telling me she doesn’t like around 80% of what I play. When she does happen to like something it’s immediate and also a devotion she tends to retain over time. A few artists have achieved this pedestal: Angel Olsen, Jenny Hval, Clairo, Altin Gun.
I am happy to say that we can add local band 26 Bats! to this list. When their latest single “Helicopter” came on the radio the other night, after a scant few bars my daughter piped up, “this is good. Who is this?”
I have to agree. 26 Bats! have come a tremendous way since they started what feels like just a handful of years ago. The band (which is composed of members of the Kremblems Collective and led by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Bailey Cogan) has particularly branched out this year, releasing singles that build on the group’s jazz/r&b inflected pop sound and push it in new directions like folk and trip hop.
“Helicopter” drives that exploration further – combining all aforementioned elements into a dreamy confection of electropop driven by piano/synth, guitar, drums, sampling, and, as always, Cogan’s terrific voice. It’s a great tune and hopefully a harbinger of more to come. Stay tuned to the band’s facebook page for updates.
Stream/purchase “Helicopter” below:
Co-founder, photographer, writer
