When I went to this year’s Blacksun Festival I didn’t discover any unfamiliar bands that really impressed me…except for Bloodwire, a group from Oakland, California.  Bloodwire is one of those bands who can remind you of other musicians you like without sounding derivative; in this case, there are pleasant parallels to The Mirror Reveals, Curve, Garbage, and (especially) Hungry Lucy.  (The Hungry Lucy connection shouldn’t come as a surprise as War-N Harrison is credited with “additional sound design” in the liner notes.)  Transformation covers quite a bit of ground: the slinky synth groove and breathy vocals on “More Than Life,” the dance floor-friendly beats of “Overdue,” and the shimmery guitar work on “Hallway” are all very different, yet they make for a completely cohesive, if intentionally moody, album.  I-Li’s vocals on “Accusations” send a chill down my spine in the best possible way.

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