''I Don't Know'' is the second studio album by British

shoegaze Shoegaze (originally called shoegazing and sometimes conflated with dream pop) is a subgenre of indie rock, indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion (music), distortion and effects, a ...

band Bdrmm, released on 30 June 2023 through

Rock Action Records Rock Action Records is a Scottish, Glasgow-based independent record label, founded and maintained by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. The label has showcased such diverse talents as Part Chimp, Errors, Chris Brokaw, Trout, The James Orr Compl ...

. It was produced by Alex Greaves and received positive reviews from critics.

Critical reception

''I Don't Know'' received a score of 82 out of 100 on review aggregator

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based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". '' Uncut'' felt that the band "have expanded their sound, retaining that youthful energy and combining it with ambition and impressive marshalling of dynamics that creates a strangely serene album", while ''

Mojo Mojo may refer to: * Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in Hoodoo Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * ''Mojo'' (2017 film), a 2017 Indian Kannada drama film written and directed by Sreesha Belakvaadi * '' ...

'' remarked that Bdrmm's "murky spider play tugs at the listener's emotions in unanticipated ways". ''

The Quietus ''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics. Content ''The Quietu ...

''s Zara Hedderman found that it "builds and expands on the successes of its predecessor", from which it "retains a similar wash of reverb-drenched guitars and vocals". Robin Murray of '' Clash'' described the album as "a thrilling return" as well as "an about-turn of sorts, swapping the directness of their debut for an endearing brand of eclectic minimalism". ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

''s Thomas smith stated that "where their debut was dark and informed by the early-20s malaise (no wonder it chimed well in COVID's lost years), ''I Don't Know'' shows glimmers of hope." He concluded, "This is a special record by a band who are not-so-quietly raising the bar for the whole British scene". '' The Skinny''s Jo Higgs opined that Bdrmm "have a solid formula: radio-rock with more substance, nuance and historical awareness than most of their contemporaries". Paul Simpson of

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wrote that ''I Don't Know'' contains an "expanded pool of influences, which still include all manner of dreamy, hypnotic rock music, as well as ambient, dance, and classical, incorporating a greater presence of synths and atmospheric textures", also calling the band "consistently inventive, the production is generally fantastic, and the album has several strong moments". Craig Howieson, reviewing the album for ''

The Line of Best Fit ''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...

'', felt that "the longing shoegaze of their earlier work still persists, but it is no longer tempered by a longing to escape, it is emboldened by a knowledge of the beauty that lies beyond" and that Bdrmm "have created an enigma for you to unravel. One of dark beauty and twisting longing."

Track listing

Charts

References

{{reflist 2023 albums Bdrmm albums Rock Action Records albums