BlimeyOhRiley – Where We Are Merely Imaginary (2022)
While pushing the boundaries of their sound, BlimeyOhRiley explore themes of regret, self-doubt and our existence through the tracks of Where We Are Merely Imaginary. The EP moves away from standard song structures for a more open exploration of these themes, while evolving the band’s musical style. Gloomy with a touch of ironic humour, the EP is an adventurous step forward for the band that is sure to get you rocking to their new blended sound.
With a style that encompasses fast mood changes and weaves around heartfelt lyrics, the band used the lengthy creative process for this EP to transform into something greater. After releasing their debut album in 2016, they slipped into the local music scene, where they were warmly welcomed. Their momentum was slowed by the pandemic, but this gave them time to create the collection of songs that have now become this EP.
The EP opens with ‘Check Yourself’ and the steady strum of guitars that are joined by the bouncing beats. The second guitar line enters to shake up your senses and fill you with a vibrating energy. The vocals have a pure punk-rock vibe to them as they grab your hand and run down the melody with you. The chorus is a cry and call bundled together with an infectious burst of melodics. There is a call to take a look at yourself and where you are headed, that is infused with a plea from someone who wants to alert you to the potential dangers. As the single progresses, there is a shaking energy to the track that zings through your senses like a live wire.
‘Kelly Kapowski’ has a slightly heavier feeling to the pulse of the guitars. There is a touch of gloom to the guitars, before the beats and the second guitar line offers a slightly funkier movement. When this second line hits, you are going to be moving to the rhythm because there is no other option. The vocals pick up this funky vibe through the opening verse, before twirling you around with a disorientating energy in the chorus. At this point, the rock tones of the opening and the funkier line crash together for a really engaging movement. There is a lot going on in this track, as the melody swings from one direction to another and the vocals keep you moving to the rhythm. It is a wonderful showcase of everything the band has to offer, while the lyrics draw you into a rabbit hole using honest blasts.
The punk-rock energy of the band makes a comeback on ‘Pink Elephants’ which has you jumping around to the melody from the first moment. It is impossible to withstand the energy of the melody and you are effortlessly swept into the shaking movement. All of this dissipates, giving you a moment to breathe, as the vocals hit and a slightly groovy line gets you bopping away. There is a mixture of rock vocals that call out against the guitars and a rapid delivery that picks up that shaking energy and takes it to a new level. You are going to want to turn the volume up as you listen to this track, but this will also make you want to rock out even more to the track. The lyrics and vocal performance have an ironic edge to them that makes the single more enjoyable as you bounce off the walls to the song, only to ride the cascade of sound that hits halfway through. The change in the melody and vocals is wonderful as it brings a dynamic vibe to the track and shows just what the band is capable of.
‘Stress’ has a calmer feeling through the opening, after the rollercoaster of dynamic movement that characterised the last track. This calmness is temporary as the guitars rise with a rather grungy vibe that vibrates through your body from your feet up. This drops when the vocals hit for a really chilled vibe that is wrapped in a slight rock styling. The vocals bring a touch of reflective vibes to the single that encourage you to take a step back and relax a little to unleash the stress you carry into the world. The bolstering backing vocals are great when they come in as they add this wonderful depth to the song. As with the other tracks, there is a lot going on in the melody as it swings halfway through for a harder rock edge. The guitar riff is a pleasure to listen to as it soars through you and takes some of your stress with it.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Best Foot Forward’ which hits you with a wall of rock guitars from the first moment. This drops in a plunge only for you to be caught in the catchy and bouncing pulse of the second guitar line. There is a slightly retro vibe to the track as you are hit with the sounds of 90s rock, wrapped in the modern and new structure of the band’s songs. The rock tones give way to a bounce that twangs in your ears and has your body moving before you know what has happened. The vocals really soar on this track and pull you along for the ride. From start to finish, you are hooked to the track and can easily listen to it again and again.
BlimeyOhRiley really showcase what they can do through the unique structure, engaging melodics and catchy energy of their EP Where We Are Merely Imaginary. Each track has a different touch to it, highlighting the band’s musical versatility and getting you utterly hooked to their sound. This is an EP that you can easily listen to again and again, while finding something new to enjoy in each song each time you listen.
Find out more about BlimeyOhRiley on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
