Balto is a quick on the trigger, Folk, Country, Blues, Gospel, Bluegrass, and many other eclectic sounds. Their style delivers that American roots sound with its larger-than-life rock’n’roll. Coming out of the Portland area, bringing us their unique stylings on this LP which is sure to leave you wanting to listen to Strangers on repeat. Balto’s blues electric guitar shreds throughout the album beautifully accompanied by the Hammond Organs, delivering the perfect amount of psychedelic, and unleashes a complex attack on the drums help blend a spiritual force that ignite in your soul.
Notable tracks on the Strangers LP include the following:
Midnight – The guitar riff comes in takes you on a corkscrew of emotion. You feel angst and pain yet it’s beautiful. The drums perfectly accentuate the flow of the track; they beat harmoniously side-by-side with guitars and sousaphone taking you down the rabbit hole giving this track is a deep rich bass eerie sound that cuts into your ears like a warm knife throughbutter.
Star of Bethlehem– This gut wrenching track draws on the darkness and solitude of some type of addiction and/or relationship taking us to the depths of our breaking point. You are placed in a black and white world of discomfort that still comes through like a shining star, bright and beautiful. Somehow, this track is oddly comforting with its uncomfortable lyrics and has quickly become a favorite.
One Night Show – The album closes with a ballad that is simplistic yet harmonious with its guitar and drums coming in at times getting loud and soft allowing you to sink into the lyrics and the vocals. A beautiful instant of Alt-Country Gospel yearning for your soul to take it all in. The final verse ends with In some bed awake at night where distant lovers lie/Say ‘it’s a perfect one night show’/
It’s the one thing I’ll remember when I finally go.
Balto’s Strangers has that Indie feel that you can pop this album in and go for a drive down the coast and enjoy the ups and downs and feel the love and raw emotions it throws at you. All while saying I’m progressive and complex you cant time stamp me. The rich 70s blues it gives you with the guitar twang and the raspy voice gives the feel of a young joe cocker. Just brilliant.
Balto members include:
Daniel Sheron – Vocals, Guitars
Luke Beckel – Guitars, Vocals, Pump Organ
Seth Mower – Drums, Vocals, Percussion
Devon Hoffner – Bass, Vocals
Strangers features:
Adam Finger – Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals
Philippe Bronchtein – JUNO, Rhodes
Tim Shrout – Sousaphone on track 4
Ally Hall, Moorea Masa, & Mel Guérison – Provide Backing Vocals on tracks 1,5, & 10
Arranged by Balto
Songs by Daniel Sheron (SESAC)
All Songs © On the Rails Music (SESAC)
©℗ 2017 Total Reality Meltdown
www.baltoamerica.com
www.totalrealitymeltdown.com
Catch Dan Sheron of BALTO Live:
4/6 – NYC – Rockwood Music Hall
4/9 – Charlottesville, VA – The Garage
4/10 – Raleigh, NC – Pour House
4/12 – Athens, GA – Caledonia
4/13 – Birmingham, AL – The Moonlight on the Mountain
4/14 – Nashville, TN – The Family Wash
4/15 – Hattiesburg, MS – The Porter Public House
4/18 – Denton, TX – TBA
4/19 – Austin, TX – Carousel Lounge
+ more TBA
Balto
- Overall Score
The Verdict
Strangers transports the listener instantly into a furry of raw emotions transitioning through pain, fear and the uncertain happiness that life throws at you like a knuckle ball for strike three. We dare you to listen to Strangers and not feel loved. It is an album that flows into your ears and forces you to feel. Balto delivers a gift box wrapped sound of a beautifully progressive psychedelic sound that gives you the blues, Alt-Country American roots you have been yearning to be listened to over-and-over. This is definitely one album that is no longer a Stranger.
