Braids “Amends”

05 May 2013 — Parker Bruce

Braids are back and we could not be more excited about their forthcoming 12" scheduled to June 11, featuring "Amends" (below) and "In Kind", as well as "Near Enough" and "A Dawn in Me." The influence of Raphaelle Standell-Preston's project with Alex Cowan, Blue Hawaii, is palpable on "Amends", but I'm clearly not the only one who thinks in the same veins of Franklin's Key on YouTube, who commented: "I like it, but I don't hear the difference between Braids and Blue Hawaii now". "Amends" sounds cooler and more finessed than songs such as "Lemonade" on Native Speaker; almost like it's trying its hardest not to let air escape. The tumult and 'heave-ho' seems to be gone from Braids, and I guess it's a classic case of working through your issues and coming out on the side of placidity (see Vampire Weekend). Stake your claim on the single.