Blank State is a five-piece alternative/indie rock band from Manchester, NH. Consisting of Sam Drouin (guitar/vocals), Matt Hernandez (drums/vocals), Luis Hernandez (guitar), Jack Casazza (bass) and Joe Tworney (piano/keys), the band formed in the late fall of 2019 but the members have been playing together for ten-plus years and in various projects over the span of their careers. The name Blank State was initially intended to be the moniker for Luis’ solo project but then he decided it fit what the group was going for. What he calls “the meditative state that comes with completely giving into the music while playing,” the band hopes that audiences go on to find their own “Blank State” in the way the band does while playing.
Playing music that felt very much aligned with such bands like Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Beach House, the band really wraps us in swaths of layers with lush instrumentals, dynamic vocal harmonies and fragmentary lyrics that disparagingly echo the brokenness of humanity such as depression, loss and isolation as well as keeping things hopeful with moments of light and levity on Blank Slate. They leave a path open for the bit of darkness inside of all us and not too far from the path is the track to the light. This EP contains both spectrums, pinpointing a multi-faceted sound of ever-shifting shadows as well as highlighting all the grey areas of life. Blank State reels listeners in with “Terms Of Patience,” where catchy guitars, driven drums and lively percussions create a gauzy backdrop. The sounds felt very dream-like and within those hazy layers comes a haunting soundscape. The combined vocal harmonies felt very dynamic. The wash of instrumentals as well as the ebb and flow of music were poignant. I was greatly carried by the textures and sounds. Staccato guitar riffs sound out in a stop and go motion on “Okay.” The emotions from the vocals could be felt through and through and the band really dives into the driven sounds. I really loved their energy on this track. On “Foliage,” the sound of keys gives off a melancholy-tinged sound. The sole sounds of the keys accompanying the vocals project a sparse sound at first, then the addition of more instrumentals one by one eventually gives the song more life. The sound slowly builds and what comes across is unexpected. This felt like the ballad out of the bunch. I thought the traces of saxophone also went on to add more depth to this track. On “Aperture,” a smattering of drums and percussions meet the start of this song. Slowly the sounds of guitar riffs ebb in. The band jams for a good portion of the intro. Then once the vocals enter, you can really feel the track gathering in traction and flow. The music here felt moody and gloomy. The ominous notes pack together like storm clouds on the horizon. Overall, the wealth of sounds was great. The band lean into an emo/shoegaze feel on “Push & Pull.” Rumbling bass sets the tone to this song filled with angsty vocals and moody vibes. The dark riffs also felt like a highlight to my ears, and I could see why the band chose this particular track to close the EP. The band plays to great effect and once the music starts, I can feel myself detaching from the moment and entering the ‘zone’ they were talking about. I think the band is successful in creating a space for audiences to reach that same kind of state of mind they set out for while playing. The music, for the most part, felt very introspective with pensive lyrics and haunting music we can all get into. The band felt very shoegaze in that sense as well as offering their own take of other genres such as emo, alternative and indie rock. I think the band’s diaphanous and shape-shifting movements to their music makes them so much more than what a label or a construct can define. They bring to the circuit a unique vibe that felt like a collection of sounds under their very own umbrella. For now, let’s define it as music only Blank State can make.
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