Goodbye Buildings Breeding. Thanks for the Kite Fire EP.

Bands are mortal. Some, like Sacremento band BUILDINGS BREEDING, pass away too soon; others, like U2, continue to annoy the fuck out of people when they should have been euthanised a decade ago. Sometimes there seems little justice in this world.

Back in September, Buildings Breeding released this statement via their blog.

“We regret to inform you of our demise. We are ever so humble and grateful for all of your love and support through out the years. It has been so pleasing to share our little group with all of you. As we disband we do not do so on a sad note, we have had a full run with no regrets or disappointments .”

While they’ve now broken up following a round of farewell shows, they’ve blessed us remaining mortals with one last release. The Kite Fire EP was released in last week and you can download it FOR FREE from the following link.

While you’re here, I might as well tell you what I think of this final Buildings Breeding release. I’ve listened to it twice now and I was instantly entranced. While previous records, like their self titled long player and 2009's “In the Key of Calloused Fingers”, featured some individually great songs, I occasionally felt a lack of cohesiveness while listening to these records as albums specifically. Filler tunes were nestled in between some individually great songs. Not so on the Kite Fire EP.

Every song is strong and the entire record feels well balanced and evenly paced. We start off proceedings with a re-recorded version of “Brights of My Eyes” which originally appeared on the Beesting EP. It is now slower with slightly different instrumentation with a more discernable chorus It is a noticeable improvement. The original was good, but the newer version is superior in every aspect. The same can be said for the updated version of “Death on Tax Day” which appeared on the “In the Key of Calloused Fingers”. Many comparisons emerged in my mind while listening to the record. Sometimes I thought they sound a little like the Delgados, other times like the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, even Mogwai popped into my head when listening to the instrumental section of songs like 'Kite Fire'. Regardless, there is something for everyone on this particular outing.

Without a doubt the two highlights of the EP are 'Anchor Song' and 'Kite Fire'. The former features drone like delays overlayed with surf-inspired melodies and whereas the latter is more reflective and features a drawn out, somewhat uncharacteristic, instrumental section. All the songs, with perhaps the exception of the closing number “Lies of Love” with its slower brooding tone (which I feel is the weakest of the seven songs on the record), are finely crafted and present a band that have embraced a wider array of textures and sounds.

Buildings Breeding - Anchor Song by Buildings Breeding

Long-term fanciers of Buildings Breeding will notice the distinct use of more reverb and delay effects on the guitar, the addition of extra keyboard melodies and more dynamic percussion serve to mature the band’s sound, each dynamic featuring in different regards throughout the entire record. One criticism I’ve always had about the earlier recordings was the somewhat overpowering bass sound that occasionally became annoying. It is a much more balanced affair on this outing.

Overall, the result is one very good EP, one worthy of wide acclaim. A shame that it will ultimately prove to be the band’s last. Thanks for the concluding chapter though. Remember, it is FREE.