26 BATS! "PORTAL PARTY" REVIEW
Album art for Portal Party.
With a style that blends influences like Ratatat and Passion Pit in a way that is not only familiar, but also original and new, 26 BATS!'s latest project Portal Party is a rad album. This is one of those albums you can listen to front to back and hardly notice time passing you by. It’s immersive and unique, and the tracks ebb and flow in ways that make it feel like one giant, incredible song. 26 BATS! clearly had a vision for this album, and I feel like they definitely nailed it.
Standout Songs
What really stands out to me is the lead vocals. The cadence and cool haunting swells of the lyrics give the songs some real, tangible feeling. My favorite track has to be “Green Sky,” a very emotional piece with lyricism that definitely feels metaphoric, and makes me envision something post-apocalyptic, with lines like “reoccurring dream I’ve been having, such a green sky, fires in the distance” and “watching buildings fall like water, slow motion”.
Another notable track to mention is “Holy Ultimatum/Arrows.” I love the dreamy and emotional vocals in this one. The production on them is well done, the voice modulations are clear and seem very intentional, and the chorus-effect with the backup vocals gives this track a lot of depth.
I also absolutely have to mention “Midnight Fire,” a much darker track that definitely slaps. It almost reminds me of Billie Eilish or Lorde or something. Hard to put my finger on it because 26 BATS! is so unique overall. Either way, “Midnight Fire” lives up to its name with its dark, ominous instrumentals, and fiery lyricism.
Dramatic Flair
As a producer myself, I’d like to give an appreciative mention to the horns throughout this album. Very tasteful and minimal, but is done well, and gives the tracks a much more “big” feel at times, adding lots of dramatic flair.
I really like that many of the songs have simple or low-key instrumentals and percussion sections done very smoothly, with almost ethereal feeling transitions and breakdowns. It is a style of its own really, and makes for a very chill listening experience; it’s the kind of music that is great for just kind of kicking back, vibing out, and getting lost in your thoughts for a while.
Honestly, I could write a few pages worth of compliments to this album and it would barely do it justice. The fact that there are 16 tracks and I don’t want to skip any of them is a testament of its own. To sum it up, I like what 26 BATS! is doing here, and I sincerely hope they keep on doing it.
You can watch our full interview with 26 BATS! on the Melodic Noise Patreon.
And make sure to catch 26 BATS! at the 7th Street Entry Friday August 6th (today) and at the Basilica Block Party September 10th.
Listen to Portal Party on Spotify or wherever you stream your music:
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Review by: Theodore Stai, Writer @TheKingsRest
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Editor/Owner @PlaylistTC