Balmorhea
Strangers

Sometimes details make the difference. Every little detail evokes emotions, surprises, and fascinates.

I walk on the dirt path, the shadow of the majestic yellowing larches protects me, surrounds me. With my inseparable camera, I walk and admire the nature of October, in search of some interesting shot. And here it is. A small hidden green leaf. Dewdrops on its smooth surface. I zoom in, take a shot. Here are the details that make the difference. Just like the CD I'm listening to on my headphones, the new one from Balmorhea. Music made of details, of hidden sounds that when you discover them, fill you with joy. ""Days"", a celestial track of almost nine minutes, captures the essence of the band. Music made to enter straight under your skin, into your heart, and stay there. Guitars gently lead the piano by the hand, cradled by a percussive base that is never intrusive.

I continue. I walk slowly, with the mild October sun warming my face. I notice some dry twigs to my left, moving gently to the rhythm of the breeze descending from the already snow-covered mountains. A perfectly constructed spider web sways hanging between the branches, illuminated by a beam of light. A thousand colors form around it. Little circles of color that adorn the web. I zoom in and again take a photograph. Today is the right day, I think. Violin and acoustic guitar are the protagonists of ""Fake Fealty"", one of the most rock tracks on the Balmorhea album. When you least expect it, the electric guitar breaks in and captivates you. My brain is filled with these spectacular sounds, these notes seem made to give me the jolt I need. A masterpiece, I put it on loop and listen to it two, three times in a row. ""Dived"" is yet another proof of the band's skill. I get chills when I hear the strings rise in intensity, then implode into the delicate sound of the piano. Post-rock has always had the innate ability to move, but this time Balmorhea have taken this genre to a different level, a refined and engaging level like never before.

I continue my walk and can't help but smile. My light steps don't scare a little squirrel that crosses the road a little ahead of me. It stops and looks at me. I, slow and silent, crouch to try to photograph it. Its long, soft red tail, its front paws in front of its face. My heart beats fast, it's the first time I get so close to a forest animal. At the click of the camera, the squirrel runs away and quickly climbs up the trunk of a tree. But the photo turned out well. I'm over the moon. I sit on a bench beside the path. ""Jubi"" delights me with the choruses in the background. Again, those details, again those emotions that spring from the music. In the second part of the album, the ethereal, spatial, ambient sound takes over. No more rock discharges, no more bursts of rhythm. Just relaxation and peace of mind. ""Shore"" is delicate and makes you dream. It contains nothing but an electric guitar touched by light fingers. ""Pyrakantha"", on the other hand, has the merit of being an excellent proof of how a melancholy first moment can turn to joy by just inserting a drum and an airy guitar here and there. The details that make the difference, the details that move.

I get into the car just before a light drizzle begins to fall from the now completely overcast sky. The weather changes quickly here in the mountains. I look satisfied at today's shots. Close-ups and macros are the protagonists. The details have made these photographs interesting, have given these shots the element that is most important to make a difference. Emotion. And just like in my passion for photography, music also needs emotion. Balmorhea have succeeded, crafting one of the most engaging albums of recent times. Ten tracks that instill joy, hope. A whirlwind of endless sensations. An enjoyable hour full of real emotions. And at the end of it all comes ""Pilgrim"", the concluding track, which brings back those hidden details, those precious treasures that once discovered can never leave you. I rejoice in listening to these notes, and I rejoice in realizing how my passions are still able to surprise and move me.

Because it is the details and the little things in everyday life that make you happy.