Cedarsmoke have officially premiered their new album titled ‘Into The Wild World’, dropping this Friday (October 22nd).
‘We Settle Into The Night’, the first track on the album, begins the album almost like an experience. That buildup of musical emotions that take us by the hand and guide us through things that are about to come about. Almost like an anticipation, where you want to forward to the next song but stay because you love the journey so far.
From there we get a set of songs, each with their own style and personality, vying not for your attention, but for your heart. You will love these songs, as each ingests you into its music and bind with you to become the soundtrack to your next beautiful memory. Isn’t this what music is supposed to be about?
Celebrating coming of age by coming into their own, Cedarsmoke’s debut album ‘Into The Wild World’ is out everywhere on October 22.
About Cedarsmoke & ‘Into The Wild World’
With their ambitious approach to indie-rock that rewards nuanced listeners, Brisbane’s own, Cedarsmoke have packed their lyric-driven pop, dark-humoured observations and moody charm into every second of their debut album, ‘Into The Wild World’ (out October 22).
Following four well-received EP’s, ‘Into The Wild World’ is a 13-track eclectic amalgam of the band’s sonic and lyrical style, threading energetic indie-rock, acoustic folk-style ballads and piano-driven numbers together in an honest exploration of the unpredictability of life in your twenties. Cedarsmoke explains:
“The album deals with different aspects of being in your twenties and being in the throes of a quarter-life crisis. It aims to convey that entering adulthood is also like entering the real and wild world and the first time you have to properly confront adult freedoms and responsibilities like work, sex, love, money, alcohol, excess and restraint.”
Recorded and mixed by Cam Smith (Tape/Off, Spirit Bunny, Terra Pines) and including guest vocals from Maddie Keinonen (Dumb Things), ‘Into The Wild World’ opens with an introduction into adulthood as heavy drums, crooning vocals and melancholic piano signal the first step into the “real world” with ‘We Settle Into The Night’.
Next, a taste of wholesome country flavour bursts through in ‘Never Mind’ as slide guitars and juicy harmonica elements deliver a satisfying crunch in a song confronting the difficulties of experiencing social anxiety in an extroverted world.
If childhood is a party then ‘Being Young Is Getting Old’ represents the hangover as frontman Jon Cloumassis’ endearing Aussie rasp details the downside of twenty-something youth betwixt sonic experimentation with mellotron echos and effects-pedal twinges peering through acoustic guitar melodies.
On a journey of self-discovery and maturity, love song ‘Some Things’ follows with a brooding guitar and piano-led alt-rock mix, trailed by the all-good ‘Half Bad’, boasting crispy bites of distorted guitars in a lifting chorus, keeping us from sweating the small stuff.
Sojourning from Cedarsmoke’s distinctive self-deprecating darkness is ‘Anything’, arriving in the warming indie-rock embrace of an optimistic love song with vibrant smatterings of mandolin and synth, until a reality-check in the form of ‘The Bitter End’ broaches the dichotomy of freedom and commitment.
‘Time To Leave’ pipes up with rambunctious drums and robust rock ‘n’ roll riffs, each verse covering a different situation that ultimately ends in knowing that it’s time to leave, chased by stripped-back and sweet interlude ‘Sideways’, providing a soft, melodious pitstop between two high-energy rollers.
Cue ‘Sadly Ever After’, which sees Cedarsmoke take a bite from the poisoned apple in a punchy alt-rock track that uses wacky guitar bending riffs and slightly disgruntled melodies to represent not-so-happy endings that are more realistic than their fairytale counterparts.
Leaning heavily on organ melodies and crescendos, ‘An August Night’ swoons and sways, as oscillating soundscapes tell the tale of two lovers, the band’s clever arrangement conjuring the clear image of their figures moving together in the distance as the camera pans out and the credits start to roll.
On a spectre of swinging synths and solemn vocals, ‘Only Pain’ explores the glorification of suicide in popular culture with a mellow grunge-inspired track, delivering us to album closer ‘Those Days Are Gone’, a nostalgic folk-ballad that offers one last reflection on the freedom and chaos of youth, before leaving it behind with the bittersweet echo of slide guitars, pensive piano and stirring harmonica, acting as final remnants of the past.
Cedarsmoke’s previous releases, including multiple singles from this album, have seen ongoing support from theMusic, AU Review, AAA Backstage, Hysteria Mag, Scenestr, Music Is My Muse, Local Band Smokeout, Triple J Unearthed and more.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Cedarsmokemusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0LVfXd7IeEIY59IY7v2BcI
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cedarsmoke/1138202680
https://soundcloud.com/cedarsmoke-172693064
