B-Side Guys

“I’ll Meet You There” drifts through consciousness like a half-remembered dream, with Oxnard’s Late Bloomers crafting something that exists in the liminal space between pop structure and psychedelic dissolution. Released as part of their July 13th “It’s Not Enough” EP, the track demonstrates how harmony can function as both anchor and escape route.

The band’s twee pop influences surface in the melody’s inherent sweetness, but there’s something darker lurking beneath the surface. Lines like “Wrapped up in bloody gauze” create jarring contrast with the dream pop instrumentation, suggesting that even the most ethereal sounds can carry weight.

What’s particularly effective is how the rhythm section functions as emotional ballast. While the harmonies float and weave, the drums and bass create a gravitational pull that prevents the track from dissipating entirely into the ether. This tension between groundedness and weightlessness gives the song its peculiar power.

The repeated phrase “buy me buy me buy me buy me” transforms from plea to mantra, its meaning shifting with each iteration until it becomes pure sound. Late Bloomers demonstrates remarkable restraint in allowing these moments of linguistic deterioration to occur naturally rather than forcing them.

Despite numerous lineup changes since their 2016 formation, the band maintains a consistent understanding of how to layer complexity beneath apparent simplicity. The verse “Maybe later there’s a burning tree, it’s lost to me / A soul to bend” exemplifies their ability to craft imagery that feels both specific and universal.

Most impressive is how the track’s structure mirrors its thematic concern with dislocation. The way phrases like “Nothing is ever clear” float through the mix creates a sonic equivalent of the uncertainty being described. The R&B influences in their DNA surface in the way these elements weave together, creating groove from fragmentation.

When the narrator promises “I’ll be here when it’s time to clear,” it feels less like certainty and more like hope. The harmonies at this point don’t just decorate the melody – they create emotional counterpoint, suggesting multiple perspectives on this promised clarity.

For a band from Oxnard creating their own corner of the California dream pop landscape, “I’ll Meet You There” suggests Late Bloomers understands something crucial about psychedelic pop: sometimes the most effective way to explore confusion is to make it sound beautiful.