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For mercurial L.A. music-maker Will Wiesenfeld, Baths has been a long time coming. The 21-year-old has spent the better part of his days living amidst "pleasant" and "unremarkable" in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley, so perhaps it's due to a general lack of local inspiration that Wiesenfeld's own work has never fit into a prefab box of its own. Over the last six years, under the handle of [Post-Foetus], Wiesenfeld has gainfully explored the intersections and outer reaches of both electronic and acoustic music. With Baths, his eclecticism finds its greatest focus yet, in a hail of lush melodies, ghostly choirs, playful instrumentation and stuttering beats.

Wiesenfeld's trip began at age 4, when he willed his parents into enrolling him in piano lessons. (The family upright, purchased that same year, sits in his bedroom today.) By 13, he'd begun recording his own music using Digital Performer and a MIDI keyboard - a brief, ill-advised foray into Eurobeat that was set right when Wiesenfeld heard Bjork for the first time. Mind blown, he quickly boned up on viola, contrabass, and guitar and took the name [Post-Foetus], stringing together countless live configurations to execute his increasingly inimitable compositions. [Post-Foetus]' fourth album - a Dntel-ish, song-based melange dubbed The Fabric - was released on Mu-Nest in January.

Though Baths represents the next evolution in Wiesenfeld's oeuvre - which also includes the excellent ambient project Geotic - it came together under nigh-opposite circumstances. Last September, [Post-Foetus] was invited by L.A. electronicist Daedelus to share a bill with a handful of local Beat Music luminaries. Witnessing a burgeoning movement firsthand sparked something in Wiesenfeld that the 'burbs never could. In a fit of inspiration, Baths was born, though not into a preexisting scene. As is to be expected, this music goes its own way: fueled by spontaneity, tempered by Wiesenfeld's background in classic songwriting. Those two influences collide in glorious ways on Cerulean, Baths' stunning debut.

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artist news

August 26, 2010

Pitchfork has debuted Baths' first official video, "Lovely Bloodflow," directed by Young Replicant. Watch it.

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August 24, 2010

Baths' Cerulean has racked up accolades from L.A. Times, the BBC, and Drowned in Sound. Also, Sterogum premiered one of our favorite tracks off of the album, "Lovely Bloodflow."

FoF Music released a Shlohmo 7-inch featuring a Baths remix. Meanwhile, LA Weekly posted a Baths' remix of a Brad Laner track, as well as Dntel's remix of "Rain Smell."

Also, Pitchfork ran a "Guest List" featuring Baths, "Indoorsy" was NPR's Song of the Day, Prefix Mag posted an article on KCRW's music blog, and Todd C. Roberts of Truant Media gave Baths some love on We Are Panel.

July 29, 2010

S.F. Weekly reviewed Baths' Cerulean ahead of his show this Saturday at Rickshaw Stop with Memory House. Tiny Mix Tapes also reviewed it: "This isn't escapism; it's love."

Also, Baeble Music sat down with Baths for a friendly chat.

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July 15, 2010

XLR8R magazine's current issue includes a piece on L.A.'s burgeoning beat-sceners and Baths is heavily featured.

Also, Self-Titled Daily posted an article in which Baths describes the inspiration behind a few Cerulean tunes. The Converse blog shared some thoughts on the album too.

The Deli L.A. has nominated Baths as artist of the month. Vote here. "Maximalist" was recently KEXP's "Song of the Day," and also appears in a summer playlist from Tycho.

Finally, purchase Cerulean via iTunes (where you can read the flattering Allmusic review) and nab a bonus track.

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July 09, 2010

Pitchfork has reviewed Baths' Cerulean, giving it an 8.2. "Baths," they say, "places himself as something of the pop voice that the L.A. beathead scene never realized it needed."

July 01, 2010

Bath's debut LP, Cerulean, is out on Tuesday. Pre-order from the Anticon store now and receive bonus goodies.

Meanwhile, the record is fully streaming over at MBV, and L.A. Weekly has written a lengthy feature about Anticon's first Los Angeles signing.

FACT Magazine has posted Baths' remix of Shlohmo's "Post Atmosphere" from the Camping EP (FoF Music), and Stereogum has debuted The One AM Radio's reworking of Baths' "Hall," which features the Los Feliz Ladies Choir.

Also, URB posted their 4-star review of Cerulean, hailing the release -- as well as work from Dosh and TOBACCO -- as "a discernible shift" in the Anticon sound that's "hard to resist."

Finally, Flavorpill's latest mixtape (XXX) includes Baths alongside folks like Arcade Fire and Maximum Balloon (TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek).