Leeds-based project The Swell melds dreamy indie rock with shoegaze and psychedelic textures, pairing layered guitars and ethereal delivery with a spacious, cinematic sensibility. Across singles “Heathlands” and “New Day,” the band balances introspective songwriting and hazy melodic allure with a more forceful, guitar-driven energy, setting the stage for its upcoming full-length album.
The project’s debut single, released last month, “Heathlands” delights with its blissfully dreamy sound. Wordless harmonic layers progress seamlessly amidst jangling guitars, assuming a multi-layered caressing in the opening “stuck in my head” admission. “Deep down I’m wondering will I ever be in bloom?” the introspective sentiments continue, reminding fondly of a cross between Wild Nothing and Alvvays’ lushest works in the alluring tonal quality and glistening guitar layers; the band notes Wild Nothing’s album Nocturne as a specific influence. The track moves with consistent, hypnotic pacing throughout.
The Swell also note that “Heathlands” is nicely representative of the album’s overall themes. They explain: “Lyrically it touches on the main lyrical concept for this album which is introspection following a profound spiritual awakening, after a series of mystical experiences and ego dissolution, after years of pain, suffering and disconnect, resulting in a feeling of true inner peace and interconnectedness to everything in the universe and beyond.”
“New Day,” their newly released second single, enthralls as well. This one takes more of a cue from ’00s indie-rock acts like The Strokes and The Libertines, in turn embracing a heavier rock sound with pulsing bass. The lead presence maintains a serenely consuming prowess, while trickling guitars cross past the first minute into a brief rhythmic pause, before moving into a playful guitar riffing amidst “when you are free” perspectives. “New Day” is another winner from The Swell, with both tracks leaving us strongly anticipating the upcoming full-length, which is mastered by Simon Scott of Slowdive.
Stream both these tracks, below:
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These and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
