Recommended Tracks: “Backseat,” “Politix,” “Sideways”
Artists You May Like: almost monday, Beach Weather, Royel Otis
Indie rock band Balu Brigada proves that they are far from one-hit wonders and a true force to be reckoned with in the alternative music scene. Auckland natives Henry and Pierre Beasley released their debut record, Portal, on August 29 via Warner Music. While the brothers gained worldwide recognition by accompanying eclectic rock duo Twenty One Pilots on the worldwide Clancy World Tour in 2024, Balu Brigada proves that they are a standalone talent with this LP.
The opening track, “The Portal,” serves as a proper introduction for what’s to come. It’s as if the listener is dropped into a PeopleMover, slowly ascending along a blue strip of light in the cover art. As we get closer to the passageway, it’s time to buckle your seatbelt, as the lyrics of the second track begin playing through the doorway.
Leading into Balu Brigada’s acclaimed single “So Cold,” this catchy song explores the narrator receiving a “cold shoulder” from a distant lover, uncertain about the future they share, if any at all. His “always waiting” for her call not only shows the uneasiness of the situation, but also introduces a prevalent theme in Portal. Being “pulled in” and “being let go” seems exhausting, but there’s something about her that he can’t stay away from.
The hit song placed so early in the tracklist caught me by surprise, but after a proper listen through, I realized that just when you think it can’t get better than this, Balu Brigada is only just getting started.
The narrator finds himself going out of his way for love in “Golden Gate Girl,” even at the risk of worrying others. Taking trips across the bay, traveling to Sacramento, finding himself in Ohio — he follows this girl everywhere. A majority of the vocals are delivered in a straightforward, monotone fashion atop a groovy beat, contrasting with the rest of Portal and similar to Djo’s summer hit “Basic Being Basic.”
While the storyline isn’t as lighthearted, sonically, “Sideways” serves an upbeat vibe, compelling you to drive with the windows down in the crisp autumn air. We turn the corner to the epitome of gaslighting in the song. Uncovering their confrontation, his lover continues to create a story of him being in the wrong, while the narrator just wants the conversation to be over: “But now it’s coming back around again / Another story that you wrote me in / I wasn’t looking for a way to win / I was just waiting for the plot to end.” Who is the true gaslighter here? I suppose the listener can only draw their own conclusions.
“Birthday Interlude” is a short but sweet minute-long transition in which the listener hears from the lover alone for the first time. Conveyed through voicemail, it provides backstory (or the answer) to the later track “The Question,” which features pieces of the same recording. She also references JFK airport, or landing in New York, as mentioned in “Golden Gate Girl.” (See, it’s all coming together!)
The dialogue in “Birthday Interlude” shares insight into the pair’s dynamic: they’re apart as usual, and celebrating together is put on hold. This buffer reminds the listener that they are being taken on a journey and to keep their arms and legs inside the ride at all times.
At the heart of this album, we approach “Backseat.” Pressing play on the cassette player, this song may be one of my favorite songs of all time. You can dance to it, you can drive to it, you can punch a wall to it… this song is phenomenal. Back to the complicated relationship: the narrator’s other half doesn’t want to take the lead, yet wants to keep on calling the shots — a backseat driver, if you will. “Backseat” is almost two songs in itself, as just about halfway through, the lyrics end and the synth-driven, ever-changing tempo break begins. This track belongs in the emotional climax of a drama film, when the main character has to decide what he is doing with his life after all his emotional turmoil.
Searching for the perfect indie-pop song to blast on a road trip? Look no further than the seventh track, “Politix.” If you missed the gaslighting back in “Sideways,” this song shows the inner conflict of the narrator, pondering the next move as a result of his lover’s lies and deception: “I gave your words all the weight in thе world / And now I don’t know who to trust.” “Politix” showcases the brothers’ innovative blend of soft vocals with an in-your-face guitar and catchy beat. A standout transition in this song is when the instrumentals play backwards towards the end, and before you know it, the tempo kicks back up for one final punch, keeping listeners on their toes.
“The Question” calls back to worries from “So Cold” and the earlier interlude with another voice message introduction, flowing into a disco-like, chill beat. Do you want to take a break? Do you want to take things more seriously? Do you want to call it off? While the question is not explicitly asked, one thing’s for sure: the answer is not so simple. While he does like the lover, the narrator wants all or nothing in this relationship, because he isn’t looking for just another friend (he has enough of those).
The most alternative pop song on the album is “4:25,” which explores what life would be like if the narrator were to pull the plug on the relationship, tired of sweeping their problems under the rug: “It’s not that I lost all the love that we had / The less that I love, the better off that I am.” The tone of this song could not be more different from the storyline. As the lyrics depict a deteriorating relationship, I can’t help but want to skip and frolic through some flowers. The last minute or so is the most in-your-face, where the instrumentals grow a bit darker and an ominous, electronic voice repeats the lyrics.
Finally, the relationship comes to an end in the most mellow track on the album, “Isolation.” The listener takes a breather and reflects on the journey they’ve been led on so far. Though things may seem grim for the narrator, he reflects on his own experience while the tempo gradually picks up. After all, he really gave it all he could, which carries into “What Do We Ever Really Know?”
Accepting that he will never really understand what went wrong, he is no longer answering the phone: “Used to listen for the call / Saying ‘you could have it all’ / Try to be the number one / And then you question what it’s for.” The breakup happened, but the world keeps on spinning… and he is on the other side of his anxieties he feared earlier.
The final track, “Butterfly Boy,” took me by surprise with a sudden shift into a much darker synth sound before a dreamy second half. The narrator reminisces about his experience with this toxic situation, knowing he made the right choice, but not regretting the young love at all: “It’s better to feel something than nothing / but the fragility is killing me with / Skin thinner than a butterfly.” “Butterfly Boy” serves as a fulfilling album closer, using elements of the songs throughout the project both thematically and instrumentally.
Perhaps the portal transports the narrator to the girl he is involved with, from San Francisco to New York, or from his heart to hers. Regardless, one thing is for sure: this album is certainly just opening the door to what Balu Brigada is capable of.
This impressive album provides a no-skip, emotional roller coaster soundtrack you’ll want to blast in your car from summer into fall. If this powerhouse debut album shows anything, it’s that Balu Brigada are the real deal, and they are here to stay.
Portal is now available to stream on most streaming platforms.
Keep up with Balu Brigada: Website // Spotify // YouTube // Instagram // Facebook // X
