One of my favorite bands of the modern darkscene. I feel like I have been on this journey through style changes, line up changes, one things stays consistent. It’s always something fresh, always something real, and always at the top quality of any genre they dive into. Post Punk, Slick Indie, Italian Dark Disco, I never know where Panther, Barrett, and company will go next. I could not have predicted this. A complex deep cut British synth. Flavors of the criminally underrated OMD album “Crush”. Another gorgeous presence is the muted Saxaphone in a modern sound, something sure to always win my heart. with every track I am staggered by the crisp tone and razor edges. Bootblacks for me conjures images of a smokey underground club with flickering gasoline lights. Paradise is a rise to main stage neon crystal waves of Simon Le Bon.
https://bootblacks.bandcamp.com/album/paradise
All songs by Bootblacks
Lyrics by Panther Almqvist
Produced & Mixed by Xavier Paradis de Larochelle
Mastered by Hillary Johnson @ Kale Shelter Studios
Additional Arrangements by Xavier Paradis de Larochelle
Additional Engineering by Hillary Johnson
Cover Art by Carlos Pure
Additional Art by Russell Hymowitz
Additional Instrumentation:
Drums & Programming on Only You by Chris Vrenna
Saxophone on Only You by Benjamin Harrison
Saxophone on Leipzig by Oskar Carls
Saxophone on Can You Feel It? (Anymore) by Oskar Carls
Background Vox on Fade Away by Alice Gift
Percussion on Melt by Adam Amram
Bass on Melt by Russell Hymowitz
Favorite Tracks:
Forbidden Flames – “Saw you dive in the shallow end Crack in the door, the light creeps in. Make me clean, make me yours Take me away my love, I’m not ready to quit ” Always open with a banger, rule number one. The verse is one of the most “Classic” sounding Bootblacks tracks. This works well to set the transition of the chorus that lets the starlight pour in. Keyboard line is such a hook here. Loving the echo vocals by Alice Gift. A shock and beautiful set up for what comes next.
Only You (feat. Chris Vrenna & Benjamin Harrison) – “What have you lost? You don’t have to say Is it love? Doesn’t have to be that way” – This track is pure sex coming out the pores of your skin. Every part humming in a rise and fall unity to then be capped off with that perfect sax riff. This would be a great intro song for the next James Bond movie. |
Paradise – “Heaven’s not so far Not so far away If you plan to stay I can show you it all ” Title track is a sleek Tron laser bike ride through a midnight city. Pather’s vocal’s have a honey dripping chorus effect. The double beat snares are crackling light. Every track is felt as much as head in the percussion. |
(This interview feels like a million years ago now 🙂 but it was 4 🙂 )
Wilderness – “In this life we’re not alone You’re the only one I’ve ever known When the sky turns to black It’s your call that keeps me coming ” – Something primal and cold. A beacon we hold in our hearts that draws us to each other in times of danger. The synth line is so light on it’s feet, unpredictable. Panther’s vocals hold a bit more of that Thin Skies menace and growl. |
“Paradise” represents another leap forward in evolution for a band unafraid to go wherever the spirit directs them. The precision, innovation, and passion of the songs marks them as one of the prime trend setters of modern darkscene. If you have never seen their live show, it is an experience beyond these heart pounding songs. Watching this high speed journey the last 5 years has been a privilege. Don’t waste another moment before jumping on the Bootblacks train.