(Cover art by Shannon Maroney)
Allergen's first single feels like a private conversation, being broadcast to the world.
Well, technically it's their first official single — the delightfully sad "Picket Fence" remains on Bandcamp exclusively. And even "Open Letter," which will be releasing in full tomorrow, was performed primarily by Shannon Maroney, the band's singer/guitarist, with drumming from the band's lead guitarist, Eve Speers. So we'll have to wait a bit for a full-quartet Allergen song. But "Open Letter" is more than enough to fill the gap in the meantime.
Maroney's lyrics flow straight to the heart with an abundance of references to alcohol. The bubbling instrumental gives their vocals a sense of gentle buoyancy, especially during the first minute. Intensity builds like a gradually rising tide and releases with the chorus' arrival. Gloriously harmonized vocals plea a single word — "give." The second chorus comes full circle, balancing out by adding echoes of "take." Imbalance is everywhere; one person is left wounded and alone and the other escapes unscathed ("my blood is running through an IV / into your veins). The one-sided nature of the imagery is blurry yet poignant and totally engaging.
The final moments of "Open Letter" give slight closure, but not in a desired way. The story ends, and "the cycle starts again."
"Open Letter" was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Claire Altendahl at Minnehaha Recording Company. It will be out on streaming platforms tomorrow (3/1) at noon.
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