''Birthmarks'' is the fifth studio album by American post-punk band
Bambara. It was released on March 14, 2025, by
Bella Union
Bella Union is a British independent record label founded in 1997 by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. It is now run solely by Raymonde.
History
After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twin ...
and Wharf Cat Records.
Produced by
Graham Sutton
Sir Oliver Graham Sutton CBE FRS (4 February 1903 – 26 May 1977) was a Welsh mathematician and meteorologist, notable particularly for theoretical work on atmospheric diffusion, boundary layer turbulence, and for his direction of the UK Mete ...
, ''Birthmarks'' is the band's first release since its 2022 EP ''Love On My Mind'', and its first full-length album ''Stray'' in 2020.
Reception
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
gave the album a rating of 3.5 out of five and stated "there is more of a conceptual storyline to this album, involving a character named Elena and the man who murdered her boyfriend."
''
Louder Than War
''Louder Than War'' is a music and culture website and magazine focusing on mainly alternative arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication that was started by the English musician and journalist John R ...
'' referred to it as "possibly their most accessible album to date, full of gothic post punk drama from the Bateh brothers," and assigned it a rating of 4.5 out of five,
while ''
DIY Magazine
''DIY'' is a United Kingdom-based music publication, in print and online. Its free print edition is released monthly with a physical circulation of 40,000 in UK venues, clubs and shops.
DIY Magazine
''DIY'' was launched in 2002 by then-editor ...
'' rated it three stars, noting "much of ''Birthmarks'' instead appears confusing, unable to find its groove. In essence, not one for those who actively avoid spoilers, perhaps."
''
The Quietus
''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics.
Content
''The Quietu ...
'' described the album as "a collection of speak-sing story-songs that has both a commercial sheen and an underlying eeriness," and ''
BrooklynVegan
''BrooklynVegan'' is an American online music magazine founded in 2004 by David Levine. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and originally focused on vegan food and the music community in and around New York City, before broadeni ...
'' remarked "Whoever is responsible for this sonic renovation, huzzah, because ''Birthmarks'' sounds like a million bucks in all the right ways and the band's essential Bambara-ness never gets lost in the gloss."
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for ''Birthmarks'' adapted from Bandcamp.
*Graham Sutton – producer, mixer, engineer, keys, rhodes and organ
*Bambara – producer
*William Brookshire – engineer, bass, piano and synth
*Alex Zhu – engineer
*Mike Collins – additional engineer
*Conor Stanfield – additional engineer, conors
*Risa Elledge – additional engineer
*Bria Salmena – additional engineer, vocals on "Because You Asked"
*Emma Acs – additional engineer, vocals on "Hiss"
*Madeline Johnston – additional engineer, vocals on "Face of Love" and "Elena's Dream"
*Cory Bracken – additional engineer, vibraphone
*Matt Colton – mastering
*Reid Bateh – vocals, guitar, piano and noise
*Blaze Bateh – drums, percussion and organ
*Jeff Tobias – alto saxophone
*Elisabeth Fuchsia – viola and violin
*Jummy Aremu – vocals on "Pray to Me"
*Jen Monroe – vocals on "Face of Love"
*Sean Smith – trumpet
*Marilu Donovan – harp
*Guarionex Rodriguez, Jr. – album photography
*Art Belikov – graphic design
References
{{Reflist
External links
*
Birthmarks' on Bandcamp
Bella Union albums
2025 albums
Bambara (band) albums