Honey by Peals
Honey, the second full-length from Baltimore-based duo Peals, elevates their exploratory sound to majestic new heights of otherworldly instrumental pop while preserving the intimacy of their live shows and earlier recordings.
William Cashion (Future Islands) and Bruce Willen (ex-Double Dagger) recorded much of Honey in Willen’s Baltimore home. Together they build rapturous melodies of interlocking and looped guitars that channel kosmische musik, ‘70s Eno, and new wave hooks à la Robert Smith into above-the-clouds dreamscapes. Unexpected and delicate textures—wind, bells, the whirs of a film projector—situate listeners in the elemental immediacy of Peals performances, which take place in art galleries or open fields as often as traditional music venues
Each of Honey’s nine tracks brim with emotional resonance. Album opener “Become Younger” lifts off with bright sine-waves of sound that gradually layer into an ethereal two-guitar orchestra. Stunner “Essential Attitudes” transmits prismatic sonic shadings over minimalist percussion (created by Willen on his guitar), joined by an exultant bass line from Cashion. The lush “Punk Migration” finds legend James Iha joining the group on sublime infusions of guitar, keyboard, bass, and voice. On closing cut “Koan 2,” plucked campfire refrains flutter and flirt before gradually receding, setting the listener back on the ground just as effortlessly as they took flight nine excursions earlier.
Recorded over a three-year span and mixed by Chester Endersby Gwazda (Dan Deacon, Future Islands), Peals’ sophomore album triumphantly refines and expands the sound palette they mapped out on their 2013 debut, Walking Field. A journey at once meditative, transportive, and eminently accessible, Honey is one of those special albums that creates an entire world—and then invites the listener to populate it with thoughts and dreams of their own.
— Eric Allen Hatch
Tracklist
| 1. | Become Younger | 6:34 |
| 2. | Wind Honey | 4:32 |
| 3. | Essential Attitudes | 3:38 |
| 4. | Tehachapi Loop | 5:50 |
| 5. | Punk Migration | 3:19 |
| 6. | Trillium | 6:19 |
| 7. | Grapefruit | 6:02 |
| 8. | Pink Cloud | 2:48 |
| 9. | Koan 2 | 6:53 |
| 10. | New Years Whale | 5:24 |
Credits
William Cashion: electric, acoustic, floating, & bass guitars; field recordings
Bruce Willen: electric, percussive, & acoustic guitars; keyboards; toy piano; bells; field recordings
Guitars, bass, synth, & voice on "Punk Migration" by James Iha. Orange Butterscotch Music (BMI)
Saxophone on "Pink Cloud" by Andy Abelow
Banjo & 16mm film loops on "New Year's Whale" by Phil Davis
All songs written by Peals, Mellow Curb Music (ASCAP) except "Punk Migration" by W. Cashion/B. Willen/J. Iha, "Pink Cloud" by W. Cashion/B. Willen/A. Abelow, & "New Year's Whale" by W. Cashion/B. Willen/P. Davis
Honey was mostly recorded in Bruce's living room, and Chester's home studio, except some guitars on "Become Younger" by Dan Frome and bass on "Essential Attitudes" by William at home. James Iha recorded his tracks at Eye Sky Studios, Los Angeles.
Mastered by Sarah Register at the Mastering Palace NYC.
Copyright Peals 2016. All Rights Reserved.
License
All rights reserved.
Peals is William Cashion and Bruce Willen, two bass players for some of Baltimore’s most revered bands (Future Islands and Double Dagger respectively) known for their passionate and energetic live performances. With Peals, the duo creates intimate ambient music based in improvisation, flipping the bombast of their other groups on its head in pursuit of a more subdued muse.