|
(23rd May) London alt four-piece Speedial release their debut EP 'Light Of The Late Night' today, launching it with a headline show at Windmill Brixton on 26th May.
Merging melodic post-rock, shoegaze, and math rock, punctuated by left-turns into jazz fusion and noise-rock, dual vocalists Serena Garrod and Millie Kirby layer fragile yet powerful harmonies over tightly constructed instrumental passages, joined by saxophonist Monarch Vavrechka and drummer Joe William Killick, whose melodic fluidity and technical dynamism add further depth.
Produced by Joseph Futak (Tapir!, lilo), the band's debut EP 'Light Of The Late Night' provides a tantalising glimpse of this interplay, with early support arriving from CLASH, DIY Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, Hard Of Hearing Magazine, as well as Spotify’s Jazz UK and melomania playlists - marking them as a band to watch.
Speedial's songwriting is an evolving process. Their intricate arrangements, with precise tempo, meter, and dynamic shifts, aren't built on improvisation, but careful planning and structure. Songs are born in rehearsal rooms, then road-tested and refined live, allowing the band to organically discover what truly resonates.
The new four-track EP showcases songs shaped over years of live performance and studio experimentation, from tape-echoed iPhone interference to re-amped vocals and richly layered instrumentation including harmonium, dulcimer, and cello.
>From the textured introspection of the previously released 'An Altar' - which delves into faith and self-doubt - to the expansive instrumental terrain of lead single 'Tourist', a song that vocalist Serena describes as depicting an "exaggerated 'evil' version of myself", these two songs offered a thrilling introduction the the EP's sonics - immersive, detailed, and sonically fearless.
The previously unheard 'Sharing Oxygen' captures the emotional volatility of new intimacy, pairing looping, tender chords with production that gradually overwhelms, mirroring the exhilarating yet suffocating weight of vulnerability. EP closer 'Rot', in contrast, finds power in stillness, as Millie’s lyrics explore depression and the quiet surrender to self-isolation. A droning pedal organ and gently fading instrumentation bring a sense of eerie calm, offering a moment of acceptance and serenity after the turbulence of earlier tracks.
Speaking more on the release of the EP, the band said:
"Much of our lyricism explores themes of self perception/villainy, yearning and mental struggles, as well as contrasting ideas such as retaliation/acceptance and isolation/suffocation. We wanted these themes to complement the complexity and atmospheric density of the instrumentals we make".
Four long-time friends who grew up playing music together, Speedial's shared history is evident in their tight-knit sound. Firmly embedded in London’s thriving alternative scene, the band are regulars at The Windmill, The George Tavern, and The Shacklewell Arms, sharing stages with acts including Picture Parlour, Camera Picture (black midi), Ugly (UK), Dog Race, Jasper Llewellyn (from caroline), The Orchestra (For Now), and Deep Tan.
Whether it’s their meticulous writing process, genre-fluid sound, or deep-rooted chemistry, Speedial are undoubtedly carving out their own space within London’s thriving underground.
New EP 'Light Of The Late Night' is out now. Speedial headline Windmill Brixton on 26th May.
|
