"It's a rare composer who possesses the werewithal to craft airbrush-clean glam pop while simultaneously indulging in lengthy, repetitious folk ballads. Boris Skalky of Dead Heart Bloom (and once-bassist of the now-disbanded DC band Phaser) manages to do just that. In his work's current stage, he has managed to self-release one full-length and four follow-up EPs, all available for free streaming and download on Dead Heart Bloom's website. The range of sounds is anything but jarring, and is surprisingly exciting in its polarity: from dark dirges replete with Christian imagery, to the lustful, crooning timbre of Marc Bolan or Lou Reed circa Transformer, to honey-soaked, four-part harmonied, oceanic odes reminiscent of Iron & Wine and, dare I say it, Elliott Smith. Skalky never misses a song's strongest line or a delicious guitar solo. This guy knows what rock and roll can do; the depths to which it can delve, the twisted mire of emotion it can produce, and the power it has get your ass moving. If I were you, I'd choose the Oh Mercy EP as my first Dead Heart Bloom experience - full, rollicking, punk - and go from there. And don't miss them this Saturday at Pete's Candy Store!"


Drew Citron, Jezebel Music