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Terra Relicta webmagazine has teamed up with Belgian label Weyrd Son Records to offer you an exclusive streaming premiere of the new song of the Los Angeles, CA (USA) based post-punk/coldwave female fronted trio Second Still. The song is named "Automata" and is taken from Second Still's upcoming EP titled Equals, which will be released on 20th April through Weyrd Son Records. Belive us, this is something that will make those who fancy the old school post-punk or typical French coldwave tradition scream of joy! But yet, Second Still brings something quite unique... and you are allowed to experience their rather unconventional take on post-punk by clicking play on the player below.
Second Still is combining the definitive sounds of French coldwave with the unconventional time signatures of no-wave, then layering that hybrid with hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies, Second Still crafts a sound soaked in nostalgia but also one that marches onwards towards the future. Infectious bass lines infiltrate your body and attack your senses. Guitar phrases glide in undulating melodic waves that peak into moments of formidable delay feedback. Heavyweight drum machine beats feel like punches to the gut. Combing the 80s underground for only the best of influences like Xmal Deutschland, Garlands-era Cocteau Twin, Asylum Party, and Opera De Nuit, Second Still invokes the classic wave of La Vague Froide as their sound washes over you. Smooth running water slowly freezes as the sun’s reflection is blocked by a sound that is decidedly Second Still’s own unique imprint.
Second Still released their self-titled debut album in April 2017 and the album was named as “best post-punk debut LP of 2017” by Post-Punk.com. Before that the band released also one EP, Early Forms, in March 2016. While the songs from this newest release retain the sheer power and intensity of the band’s previous two releases, Equals sees Second Still evolving their sound and progressing forward into sonically uncharted territory. The four main components of the band’s signature sound are still there – chorus and delay-heavy guitar, hypnotic bass grooves, heavyweight drum machine beats, and hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies – but they have added a couple analog synthesizers into the arsenal for Equals, mixing a whole new element into their already uniquely realized style of post-punk. Commanding synth bass, subtle ambient soundscapes, and forceful lead synth hooks now supplement and enhance the distinctive sound that Second Still had already crafted on their first two releases.
The band also explores a more pop-orientated and lighter sound on Equals, especially on the A-side, while the B-side stays true to the band’s more melancholic and gloomy roots. The EP kicks off with “In Order”, an upbeat and throbbing dance-floor anthem with a pulsating arpeggiated synth line driving the song forward. Following that is “Ashes”, a six-minute pop ballad who’s feeling is constantly shifting, at times being tastefully reserved and atmospheric, while at others totally unleashed and unhinged. The B-side offers a nice contrast to the pop sensibilities of side A, with three unrelenting back to back tracks of aggressive and forceful coldwave outpourings. The EP also has a sixth bonus track titled “Walls”, that is included in the digital and cassette versions of the album, and as a limited edition flexi disc to be given away with the first 100 vinyl purchases. Equals was written over a period of six months, and recorded in various rehearsal spaces and makeshift studios around Los Angeles. Chris King is credited with recording, mixing, and co-producing the EP, and Mike Tierney with the mastering. Jean Lorenzo, a NYC-based graphic designer, created the album artwork, which features a front cover with a die cut design, allowing for certain parts of record’s insert to be visible through the openings.
Pre-oerders for Equals are available at THIS LOCATION
Second Still links: Facebook, Bandcamp
Weyrd Son Records links: Official website, Facebook, Bandcamp
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