Braids - Companion EP

Braids
Companion EP
2016
Spotify

Deep In The Iris was sad yet transcendent. It was the best thing Braids have done, and really put them into a whole other conversation when it comes to song writing. That was last year and thus this Companion EP is a bit of a surprise but an absolutely welcome one. On this EP Braids somehow feel even more confident in their sound. The single off of this release "Joni" is upbeat yet still just as haunting as anything they have done. Raphaelle Standell-Preston's voice remains clear yet still has that intense dour tone that cuts right to your heart. This record however is much more hurried and spastic, like ideas swirling all around you and trying to hold on to one for dear life. That idea could be trying to hold on to a relationship or attempting to be ok with a sense of home within one's self. Braids have this ability to write something that is catchy yet so intensely poignant at the same time and it really is unmatched in the music world today. Much of Companion was written during the recording of Deep In The Iris, and was recorded shortly after it's release and the vibe remains the same though it may take an even more melancholy turn.

Because their is just not that much to dig into on the EP it is hard to give it a fair shake on it's own, but as part of the whole Deep In The Iris piece the record begins to make more sense. You can almost see the dark clouds and the moisture in the air as you listen to this record just as much as you can feel the longing and pain in Raphaelle Standell-Preston's vocal. The connection to this album is less than their previous release but the spirit still remains. Companion however does not really look back as is the case with this band they are always looking forward seeking the new and important. This is an EP worth your time and for that matter go back and listen to Deep In The Iris as well to get the full effect both can have on you. Perhaps the most toughing line in the entire record comes on the title track when Raphaelle Standell-Preston sings "I don't remember the last time I saw you.", it is haunting, moving and any other adjective you would like to use, so just listen.

8.0 out of 10