What to do when you have a non-metal EP and a case of hard cider? Write a Receiving the Evcharist/Rainbows in the Dark! We have lighter tunes with a lighter booze so let us drink from the cup of heresy.  This Sunday’s offerings:  Birdmask’s Isolde and Blake’s Hard Cider Co.’s Passion Seeker.

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The Tunes:  Birdmask — Isolde

Manuel Gagneux seems to work nonstop, having released an EP last year as Birdmask and an album last month with Zeal & Ardor.  Isolde is a follow up to the 2023 EP Tristan, as the names suggest.  The two go hand-in-hand showing Gagneux’s range as Birdmask and touching on all of his musical influences.  Isolde holds indie, alt-rock, chamber pop, and many other genres all working together with Gagneux’s powerful voice to create a soulful, playful, and an emotive EP.  “Dial Up” opens with the nostalgic sounds of a dial up modem behind a sprightly melody.  Synthy beats eventually come in and give the song an extra kick.  “Placebohead” is an evolving track with a simmering guitar melody that slowly ramps up before stripping down to a steady beat with bluesy singing guitar lines.  Eventually strings are heard and the instrumentals take the stage with Gagneux’s wailing vocals.  “Go Idah” is a more up-beat track with harmonizing, plucky vocals and reminds me more of some of the lighter tracks off the latest Zeal & Ardor album.  Carrying a similar vibe, “Chillig Jangle” starts with uplifting bell tones and holds that lighter energy.  This track is very dreamy while also making you want to dance and sing along.  Isolde closes with “Toucan,”  another playful track with a variety of vocalization including quick moments of classic Gagneux growls in the choral lines of “…head down low” before lifting back up.  Isolde is the lighter, more whimsical and upbeat follow-up to Tristan and both EPs together show Gagneux’s incredible range and talent.   

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The Booze:   Blake’s Hard Cider Co.  — Passion Seeker

Ian and I are making our way through our stash from his birthday celebration. On Friday, Ian reviewed a Hazy IPA. Today, I have a unique fruity cider made with pineapple, passion fruit, and guava. It is no secret that I love tropical fruit and have reviewed quite a few beverages with similar flavor profiles. This is the sweetest one I have tried, but it is the first cider I have reviewed here. Immediately upon cracking open the can, the smell of apples hits you and by smell alone it is hard to tell that there are other flavors mixed in. Apple is also the first noticed taste upon sipping and it evolves to hit with those tropical flavors (most notably pineapple) and ends a bit sour with stronger notes of the guava and passion fruit. Overall the taste is quite sweet but that sourness at the end helps balance the flavor.  While perusing the variety of ciders that Blake’s offers, I noticed so many inticing ones that I am excited to try. This family owned craft cidery is located in Michigan and their base cider blend is created with five types of apples from their orchard.  If you are able to get your hands on a can, I highly recommend giving it a try. Our case contains two other flavors (“Triple Jam” made with strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry, and “Cherry Limeade” made with, of course, cherries and lime). I am eager to dive into those next. 

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Cheers and blessed be,

– Angela