Wylderness have today released their new single titled ‘Is It Summer’ from their upcoming EP ‘Safe Mode’ dropping soon. A monster sound from a humble band is my first reaction. There is a lot going on within the notes and atmosphere created by the instrumentation.
‘Is It Summer’ starts with a gentle yet effective chord progression amid a guitar riff that sets the initial tone and takes you for a smooth ride for introverted reflection. This is a perfect example of a band that is in tune with itself via songwriting and being comfortable in the recording process. The song simply is, yet is more than it shows. The history that brought this song forth is deep, both in influence and execution. A slow and consistent climb to the crescendo of an emotion and the climax of a thought. This is the emotion of good music slowly revealing itself.
About ‘Is It Summer’
This started as a riff with loads of delay played on an old Vox amp we found where we were practicing. We then jammed about and it developed into a song in two parts.
It has a cinematic quality in the first half with hints of Interpol. It reflects the wild west nature of the 90s tech boom. Then it erupts in the second half and outro (“Stand up count everything / If you want to / If you want to”).
About Wylderness
Woozy sun-drenched pop wrapped in a wall of stabbing fuzzy guitars and mesmerizing shoegaze, echoing the sounds of Ride, DIIV, Sonic Youth, and Yo La Tengo.
Wylderness’ eponymous debut album, released in 2018, was championed by Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1) and was part of Radio 1’s Best of BBC Music Introducing. It garnered critical acclaim from Clash, DIY, and Drowned in Sound, with the song On a Dais being featured on the US version of the TV show Shameless. Wylderness has played shows for Huw Stephens, Sonic Cathedral, Swn Festival, and support with Acid Mothers Temple.
The Cardiff band’s second album, Big Plans for a Blue World (2022), was recorded with an expanded lineup and featured added layers of vintage synths and clarinet. It placed no.28 in Far Out Magazine’s Best Albums of 2022 and charted in the North American College & Community Radio Chart.
2025 will see the release of their much anticipated new Safe Mode EP recorded with producers Andrew Sanders and longtime collaborator Rory Attwell.
Wylderness are Ian (guitars/vox), Jim (bass/guitars), Ben (drums/percussion), Dan (guitars/vox), and Harri (clarinet/keys).
Featured image by Kirsten McTernan.
LINKS:
https://linktr.ee/wylderness
https://wylderness.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/48Yx90p2ntMPzrPpjFKBgW
https://soundcloud.com/wylderness
https://www.instagram.com/wylderness_band
https://www.facebook.com/wyldernessband
https://x.com/wyldrnss
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3e12LpK_qDkUwV8l1u43A