‘Fade Away’ is the second single off the band’s self-titled album ‘ShapeShiftingAliens’, the CD release of which will take place in mid-February via Stockholm-based label The Sublunar Society.
ShapeShiftingAliens is a Swedish duo, consisting of Johan Cléve on vocals and Niklas Rundquist, also known as a solo artist by the moniker Brainshadow. Together, they create music and unusual and eccentric videos.
‘Fade Away’ is about a civilization and a world on the verge of collapse as a result of the endless drive for greed and power, but this song is also about the temporary nature of everything nowadays. The accompanying video perfectly reflects this thematic. Niklas Rundquist created, produced and directed the video, eerily bringing the lyrics of this dystopian song to life.
ShapeShiftingAliens signed to The Sublunar Society in 2016. They have since released several singles, followed by their self-titled ‘ShapeShiftingAliens’ LP. ShapeShiftingAliens’ inventive approach was noted by Nolan Cook of The Residents, leading them to collaborate on ‘Shadows’, the final track from their debut album.
Rundquist and Cléve met when they were working with Iodine Jupiter. Cléve is a producer, composer, live and studio musician (guitar) for film, as well as touring and performing artists. Inspired by various film music composers and especially horror films, their music has also been influenced by David Bowie, Lou Reed, Goldfrapp, Air, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and Massive Attack.
Niklas Rundquist / Brainshadow collaborates with other artists as an electric violinist, remixer and mastering engineer. Most recently, he cooperated with Big Paul Ferguson of Killing Joke and Mark Gemini Thwaite (GMT, The Mission, Gary Numan), Lima 13, and Sonisk Blodbad. He is also a member of The Leather Nun, whose history runs back to the 1980s. He also composes music for films, documentaries and commercials, and various artists on the London scene.
The Sublunar Society is a record label and publishing company, founded by Marie Lundvall and Peder Bjoerk in 2013. Sublunar releases music and publishes literature for the international and national markets. The company also produces exclusive limited edition art products for collectors. The guiding spirit behind The Sublunar Society is one of artistic freedom and creative exploration beyond the conventional.
‘Fade Away’ is now available across online stores and streaming platforms like Spotify, as well as Bandcamp. Not long after that, the ‘ShapeShiftingAliens’ album will be released on CD on February 15, and can already be ordered now.
LINKS:
http://www.sublunarsociety.net/artist/shapeshiftingaliens
http://www.facebook.com/shapeshiftingaliens
http://shapeshiftingaliens.sublunarsociety.net
http://twitter.com/shapeshal
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shapeshiftingaliens/477620386
http://open.spotify.com/artist/32gDLBQt0KvaMsWTdXHgC8
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Social Station – Try (Cross My Heart)
With a passion for analog synths, hypnotic guitar, and undeniable melancholic vocals, the band originally started as a solo project in 2013 by singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Paul Todd, debuting with the single ‘The Sun and The Air’, followed by their ‘With a Smile’ EP.
“The song ‘Try’ has been evolving for close to two years with its start as a slow and deep staccato guitar riff along the lines of early Chelsea Wolfe or PJ Harvey, and just the first verse. Moving the song to an arrangement for piano completed the verses but still did not have the Cross My Heart chorus and up-tempo pace. Still pretty gloomy,” says Paul Todd.
“Experimenting with an Akai MPC 100, the song took off with a life of its own. The guitar melodies and string arrangements just fell into place. Two words always come to mind when working on a Social Station song, yearning, and melancholy. The perspectives or lens may change but longing or struggling and feeling overwhelmed drives the writing process. This song in particular frames the challenge of feeling comfortable in your own skin while trying to have a meaningful and significant relationship.”
Their live show and distinct sound took shape through Paul Todd’s collaboration with Spenser Kydd. Their common music sensibility for distinct melodies and themes led Social Station to release their debut single ‘Awfully Pretty’ in 2015. That track received immediate attention and was hand-picked for Orkus Music and Culture Magazine’s monthly music compilation.
With the addition of Alexander Minx on drums, Social Station spent a summer in an industrial space in Baltimore, writing and recording their debut full-length album ‘Our Pleasure of Solitude’. This effort earned them inclusion in the NPR-affiliated WAMU Capital Soundtrack and Stereo Embers Magazine’s ‘Next Twenty Post-Punk Bands You Should Know About’.
With a renewed commitment to touring and recording and the departure of Spenser Kydd and Alexander Minx, this release marks a new chapter for Social Station. The extensive use of midi sequencing and the addition of classical musician Jacob Sebastian on bass has opened a whole new world of possibilities for the duo, both in the studio and on stage.
The two of them will kick off an extensive tour in support of their new single ‘Try (Cross My Heart’ and their back catalog. Catch them at one of the dates lined up their summer.
LINKS:
http://socialstation.com
https://www.facebook.com/socialstationmusic
https://socialstation.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01nErg_F6csXIF08HBNt8w/videos -
Pinhdar – Too Late (A Big Wave)
Pinhdar has released their new video for the track titled ‘Too Late (A Big Wave). I must say that the lockdown is producing some really good music and that is none the more true than with Pinhdar’s newest release titled ‘Too Late (Big Wave)’. Pinhdar has been a duo of artists that seem to be on an energetic quest to find their sound and perfect it on multiple levels.
‘Too Late’ is the latest in the evolution of revolution that Pinhdar is on a quest to said perfection. That haunting intro that transitions into an almost Laurie Anderson-inspired chorus is brilliant in so many ways. This is a song that goes left when you think it will go right, musically.
Add to that the cinematic scope of the video and you have the reverse effect of a film where that film’s score compliments the film itself. Here, you have the opposite. The cinema is here to complement the music. And that music is bold.
Check out our other features with Pinhdar HERE.
About Pinhdar
Since exploding onto the music scene in 2019 with their self-titled debut PINHDAR has further refined their brand of Psychedelic dark Pop on this latest album. The duo has made a name for themselves on both sides of the Atlantic when in the band Nomoredolls; relentlessly playing New York venues like CBGB’s, Knitting Factory & Arlene’s Grocery and established a loyal US fanbase before moving on to establish PINHDAR. Under the new name and armed with a new sound it wasn’t long before they’d won over the ears of legendary British critic and Rock Music Biographer Kris Needs.
So impressed with the bands unique sound, Kris invited them to play at the launch of his new book in London, all the while ‘TOY’ was starting to gain critical acclaim across the world with VICE/Noisey listing it in their top 10 tracks of 2019 and legendary station KEXP adding it to their repertoire.
Recorded Entirely during the lockdown in their Milan-based studio alongside Scottish producer Howie B (U2, Bjork, Tricky, Massive Attack, and many others). The musicians initially contacted their producer hero without expecting a reply, Instead, his response was enthusiastic and at a level, they had never expected offering to not only mix the raw tracks but also to contribute creatively as the album’s producer. The bewilderment felt during the months of lockdown while recording and writing led PINHDAR to seek refuge in a parallel reality, a universe of surreal and alien sounds and concepts encapsulated by the Albums cover; a house miraculously floating on the water’s surface.
The record is a dream-like journey and trip through existential anxiety exasperated by the current social environment and dangers both to humankind and our environment. Exploring themes such as solitude, social indifference, environmental threats, and our fear of mortality. These elements are interwoven in dreamy imagery capturing a mixture of emotions against a backdrop of hope. A rollercoaster of uncertainty Parallel is a snapshot of life experienced in 2020.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Pinhdar
https://www.instagram.com/pinhdar
https://twitter.com/pinhdar
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dyLnwsbDsTfxa6qPi7LjF -
Campbell L Sangster – Odds are Stacked
Campbell L Sangster is the solo project of singer/ songwriter aka Lin Sangster from Liverpool. Previous bands include Bad Anorak 404, Kit and Send no Flowers. Sangster’s recent work on soundtracks for film and video projects fed into the songwriting process for ‘Odds Are Stacked’, influencing the approach to the song and lending a visual quality both lyrically and musically.
Campbell L. Sangster’s forthcoming debut album is scheduled for release later this year, and in the meantime more music can be accessed through Soundcloud.
About the Film:
This film is an exploration of female masculinity, past, present and future. Tinged with 50s America and moments of the contemporary, Campbell performs alongside The Drakes – a posing gallant band of butches, bois, studs, transmen & genderqueers.Edie Sedgwick lives on in the body and soul of a sun worshipping, silver-clad mother, desperate for sun rays.
Meanwhile, her budding gymnast daughter becomes mesmerised by the arrival of Buffy – a woman in her 70s – physically strong and utterly focussed in her bespoke one piece swimming suit. With the spirit of Esther Williams and verve of an assassin, we watch as she dives agelessly, effortlessly.
Back and forth, stronger, stronger, air bubbles reaching the surface as each stretch reaches forward, more powerful than the last. The look of the young girl as she watches, watches as this swimmer hypnotizes her.
As the song reaches its climax, the swimmer exits the water; she leaves as she had arrived – controlled but assuaged. The young girl is left to wonder, a stronger spirit, the imprint of the mysterious woman remaining with her forever.
About the Director:
Mike Matthews is a passionate and accomplished director. He has most recently directed successful commercial campaigns for Mullenlowe, VCCP, Leo Burnett and M&C Saatchi. He is exclusively represented by Fat Lemon.Credits:
Director: Mike Matthews @ Fat Lemon
Producer: Kelley Ralph
Production Company: Fat Lemon
Executive producer: Cabell Hopkins
Cinematography: Dave Miller
1st AD: Jerome Franc
Focus Puller: Chris Stephens
Drone: Sam Moore
Gaffer: Darren Jackson
Production Designer: Mark Harriott
Costume Designer: Mark Harriott
Wardrobe Supervisor: Bex Harvey
Make-up: Tricia Woolston
Editor: Kev Palmer @ Ten Three Editing
Colorist: Matt Turner @ Absolute Post
Post Production: Absolute Post