REVIEW: Myles Bullen – ‘timetokill’
“Myles is fearless.” Ever since I heard that statement, felt like there’s been no better way to describe Myles Bullen. The Maine artist’s new album timetokill is out now via Fake Four Inc. Throughout this LP Myles’ vulnerability serves as a binding thematic agent and demands listener attention.
Myles be talking about serious shit. A lot of the times ideas of death are discussed. Personally, I find comfort in this subject. Death is as key to life as life itself. Death is the catalyst as to why each second is profoundly impactful. We never know when the final second may fade out. It’s something that is on a lot of our minds, all the time. By talking about these phenomena together maybe we can grow stronger. Myles’ music may also offer a similar unifying factor. Tracks like ‘sandwiches’ or ‘not a metaphor’ are concrete examples. Big ups to the Myka 9 verse.
Multiple genres are blended on here. Some of my personal favorites were joints with electronic influence. ‘Harley Quinn,’ ‘heartonfire<3’ or ‘Cherry Blossom Trees’ for instance. Those are probably the performances I revisit the most and showcase Myles’ wittiness as a writer. Some tracks are higher-intensity in both vocals and production style – ‘Steven King & Moxie’ or ‘Maple Syrup.’ As much as I appreciate how heavy Myles’ music can sound, their lighter songs hit just as much. You can feel the friendly atmosphere on ‘kintsugi’ as they trade verses with aLunarLanding. The last few songs on timetokill also sound almost more folk or even alternative. This creates a gentle end to the project and wraps up the narrative flow fittingly.
timetokill captures a certain feeling one may get when watching an old movie from childhood, but as an adult. Simultaneously we’re hit with nostalgic rushes while also contextualizing where we at now in comparison to the child that watched the movie initially. It can be an emotional experience – sifting through the past, present and future – but with a comforting artistic vessel at our side the process may become smoother.
Perhaps this is what I find most significant about timetokill. I’ve seen Myles live and seen how people connect to them. This music isn’t for everyone. It can be polarizing to open up and dig deep under the surface. But when one can finally let go of the burdens that they’ve been carrying, and simply just have a moment to “feel” … that is special. That is a moment a lot of us don’t have the privilege of discovering. timetokill made me sit with my emotions and ponder ideas such as these. For that, I am grateful. This is both a discomforting and nurturing composition of music that bolsters Myles as one of the next major voices on an already solidified roster of underground talents. All media courtesy of Fake Four Inc.
“I think I need some self-care time, had to smuggle the ukulele over the border so fuck Spirit Airlines”
Fav tracks : ‘heartonfire<3,’ ‘kintsugi,’ ‘not a metaphor,’ ‘ ‘Harley Quinn,’ ‘Cherry Blossom Trees’
image via Myles Bullen, Fake Four Inc. & Art by Tai
– Benny P