New Music: Pictureplane – Bitter Blossom

Dense and nocturnal, Bitter Blossom takes an unusual path between post-punk and trap-infused shoesynth on its journey to your heart.

The overall feel is gothic, but more in terms of atmosphere than sound, as icy Italo synths and a propulsive bassline direct the listener to the dancefloor. The nearest comparison might be Artemas, but with Bitter Blossom, Pictureplane doesn’t seem to seek mainstream approval. But if it comes, then it comes.

Bitter Blossom finds more likely companions in the work of Pastel Ghost, Drab Majesty, and Male Tears, knowingly taking inspiration from the past to tell their own, modern truths and tales.

It’s the opening track on Pictureplane’s Sex Distortion LP, which is out now on Bandcamp in vinyl, cassette, and CD formats. For streaming and album info, head to Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.