Easy listening is not the way to describe serpentwithfeet. Addictive is more like it. On ‘bless ur heart’, Josiah Wise’s velvety vocals unfold from a satisfying, mid-range octave to an attention-fixing height. The underlying piano chord combinations that are present throughout the track are beautifully jarring, and mixed with his vocals, reminders are drawn of James Blake’s ‘Unluck’. As on other tracks like ‘four ethers’ and ‘penance’, drama plays out with massive, rumbling crescendos - the chorus is accompanied by sudden, intense strings and loud, layered vocals which then evaporate to leave only the steady drum and piano. ‘bless ur heart’ is a love song – shocker – but a unique and thoughtfully written one as exemplified by such lyrics as ‘boy thank you for showing me how to be gentle/I have the courage to share your love boldly’. -EJ