The corridors of a killer’s mind wouldn’t be the first place I’d think of when considerable hospitable environments. But Bambara aren’t interested in comfortable surroundings — they’re fascinated by the darker impulses that drive the gears of society and those individuals that embrace the pitch black thoughts that we try to push away. Their latest single, “Letters from Sing Sing”, explores the relationship between a murderer and the girlfriend of a man he killed. Like I said, we’re not in the light here. Their post-punk serrations dig away at our sense of morality, insisting on going further in their understanding what makes a man fully turn toward the shadows. The drums clatter and stomp through these claustrophobic spaces, the guitars doing their best to shatter any barriers in their way. The insidiously catchy melody allows the music to work its way deeper into our subconscious, finding ample room to spread and influence everything it touches. The dawn can’t come soon enough.
“This song is a series of letters from the narrator to another character in the album’s story, Elena, whose boyfriend he murdered,” explains Bateh. “He’s telling her about his attempts to persuade the court to reinstate the practice of execution—specifically for him. He believes that if he can persuade them, he will be able to see her one last time, convinced that her intense anger and thirst for vengeance will drive her to attend his execution. We were lucky to finally collaborate with visionary director and fellow Athens, GA expat, Jason Miller. The central character, Elena, is portrayed by Wife Erath in a captivating performance.“
Watch the video below.
Birthmarks is due out March 12 via Bella Union/Wharf Cat Records. You can pre-order the album here and here. Follow the band on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
