Single Review: Holy Wave’s Dreamlike, Multi-Coloured Psychedelia In ‘Interloper’
Holy Wave | Interloper (single) | The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Levitation
Single Release Date: 1 May, 2020
Album Release Date: 3 July, 2020
With the ebb and flow of Holy Wave’s ethereal, dreamlike tide we find ourselves soaked in walls of sound, the fluidity of which lapping lovingly at a shore doused in sensuous reverb and melodious shimmers.
The multi-instrumentalist band hailing from Texas, USA are known for crafting flowing, otherworldly seascapes of glittering psychedelia, sculpting layers of flourishing textures into delicately woven, emotive shoegaze-esque alternative with touches of airy dream-pop – a realm easy to find ourselves lost in, as if drifting carelessly with eyes closed in a ocean of colourful synthesizer daydreams and twinkling melodies.
The hazy mesmer of Holy Wave’s sound has shifted over time yet the band still manages to remain quintessentially themselves; moving effortlessly between genres such as garage rock, to the present daze of dream-pop spliced with elements of relaxed, thoughtful polychromatic shoegaze and strong influences of psychedelic rock.
Following up to 2018’s ‘Adult Fear’, the band’s 5th LP ‘Interloper’ is scheduled to be released on July 3rd, 2020 – and in lieu of the upcoming release, and a successor to the singles ‘I’m Not Living In The Past Anymore’ and ‘Escapism’, their latest single release and the album’s titular track ‘Interloper’ along with an accompanying video – allows us further insight into a highly anticipated release from the celestial artists.
Opening with a colourful, composed oscillation of gently quivering synthesizers ‘Interloper’ is engulfed with a rich, warm aura that exudes a retro-feel; sustained 80’s-esque synths shimmer with their self-assured chords, companions to the steady drumbeat and easygoing aura. As the vocals enter, a striking sense of psychedelic nostalgia sets in: the tranquility of the slightly dulcet vocal wash reminiscent of the kaleidoscopic 70’s, bringing to mind elements of the introspective, thoughtful and smooth vocal calm present in many Pink Floyd tracks.
The rise and fall of ghostly synths singing amongst the lavish walls of sound, reflective vocals and multicoloured electronic timbres – ebbing and flowing with calmer moments into a more dramatic crescendo, comes across as intriguingly cinematic and prismatic in the track’s composition.
With a reference to Pink Floyd, comes, of course, a reiteration of the band’s dreamy interpretation of psychedelic rock in the modern era, and the hallucinatory aura they are able to capture effortlessly, splicing their musical influences into their own distinct personality.
Working in perfect symbiosis with the official video, the track lovingly shares the animated hallucinogenic feel of both The Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ films, a striking influence but with a uniquely modern twist.
Rating: 7 / 10
Feature Image: Holy Wave via Bandcamp
