When The Words Are Gone

Haley “Bratt”

“Bratt” flies by in just over two minutes, a plaintive ballad accelerated by a very late ’90s sort of drum loop. The percussion sounds so huge that the atmosphere created by the keyboard and guitar parts feels like it’s happening inside of the rhythm, contained within and echoing off of walls implied by the snare hits. Haley’s voice is in there too, high enough to cut through the treble and gentle enough to signal confusion and vulnerability. The lyrics suggest a messy, questionable relationship with someone with substance abuse issues, but also a real affection and commitment to that person. It’s clear enough to get across the idea, but ambiguous enough that some lines come off as vaguely sinister.

Buy it from Bandcamp.