Make Do and Mend – Bodies of Water

Make Do and Mend‘s EP, Bodies of Water, sounds a lot like Hot Water Music. That’s what I decided when I played the EP a few times last night. The vocals carry the same passionate dissonance that Chuck Ragan does on Caution, hell Father could slip into that album with ease and without notice. The similarities are staggering, from the aforementioned vocals to the hollow, almost distant drum beats,Make Do and Mend is constantly tipping their hats to Hot Water Music and it works really well.

Yet, the record isn’t only Hot Water Music and that continues to surprise me. Every once in a while, particularly on Shambles and TL (which occasionally sounds like Aspirations) you hear something quite different: you hear a tip of the head to Choke. Yes, Choke. An atmospheric prog-rock band with soft vocals seems to have left their influence all across Bodies of Water just as much as Hot Water Music has. It’s an odd combination and very distinct separation as Shambles is much more solemn, mellow and more reserved song that is able to merge into Winter Wasteland, which simply explodes in speed, intensity and fury, without a second thought. They instantly pull out the Hot Water Music post-hardcore vibe, throw in some passionate lyrics, overlapping vocals and a chorus that begs to be screamed along with and they built up to it with something so clean and different that it’s astonishing.

But it works, don’t ask me how, but Make Do and Mend‘s Bodies of Water remains a cohesive piece of post-hardcore music that ebbs and flows with anticipation, passion and sincerity. The vocals, as mentioned before, are gruff and worn for the most part. Sung at a high speed and with a sense of depth that is equally shared by the personal and sincere lyrics like “I drove by the cemetery wondering who will write our eulogies? Because I’m been having some trouble lately believing that god is more than winter whistling in these trees,” the vocals are passionate and captivating.

At six songs, Bodies of Water takes the listener through a roller coaster of emotions and sensations. Yet, its all tied together nicely by a string of melancholic hooks contrasted by hopeful – but questioning and introspective – lyrics. The Hot Water Music vibe is heavy, but there’s enough differences and unique little twists in their sound to make it feel fresh and not a complete rip off.