English band FADED explores a melancholic, disjointed reality on the Out Of Season EP. This collection of tracks, deemed too dark for their upcoming optimistic album, balances orchestral grandiosity with post-punk grit. From the baroque-pop mystique of “Lava Bird” to the brooding title track, the release cements their knack for dynamic tonal maneuvers and emotively gripping sincerity. The act first caught our ears with the excellent album Found Sound in 2024.
The title track is an enthralling kick-off to the EP, exuding a haunting grandiosity right away with its blaring orchestral intrigue and brooding post-punk bass injection. The “it’s coming down on me” foreboding lyrical bite pairs with a ghostly vocal tone, reminding fondly of The Go-Betweens and Manic Street Preachers in its initial debonair stride. The title-bearing hook then delights in its moody textural expanse and reflective vocal elements, with its “don’t exaggerate … don’t imagine it” advisements building wonderfully back into the verses. Right away, FADED show a capacity for both riveting mood and melodic infectiousness with “Out Of Season.”
The EP’s other three tracks prove similarly captivating. “Break Of Day” unveils a gorgeous production in its initial foray of trickling acoustics and woodwind flourishes. Season-changing vocal introspection lets out with heartfelt appeal. “Leaves keep falling, as the wind is calling. I’ll be gone by break of day,” Dave Beattie’s suave vocals let out, the croon showing lovely shades of The Last Shadow Puppets. Coming next, “Lava Bird” enamors especially in its mixture of hypnotic strums, jangly allure, and caressing vocal harmonies; concluding touches of strings bolster the spy-theme feeling. EP finale “Caught In The Rain” dazzles as well, integrating acoustics and baroque-pop mystique within psychedelic, reversed production creativity. Out Of Season is a fantastic listening experience from FADED.
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“Out Of Season” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
