Fresh out of school and already finalists in the 2022 JJJ Unearthed competition, Sunsick Daisy have just released their EP ‘Breathe In…Breathe Out’, and it a spectacular debut.
It’s an EP of two halves – the first three tracks are subtle gentle dream pop before the shackles are thrown off and the band veers into a harder shoegaze territory. But the golden thread running though out are the gossamer vocals, reflective personal lyrics and jangling guitars that combine to create an ethereal and majestic mantle. It is quite frankly outrageous that a band so young can produce something so posed and polished.
Singer Sarah says of the EP:
‘Breathe In… Breathe Out’ is about feelings of love, loss, self-doubt, and persevering through mental health struggle. These songs came about after a period of burnout, during a break from intensive gigging that allowed us to reflect on being Triple J Unearthed High finalists earlier in the year and inspired us.
We recorded all 5 songs in a week and our time in the studio was fast paced and exciting, fueled by lots of McMuffins. We had challenges trying to recapture the songs’ live energy and with technical issues we were forced to re-record the guitars outside of the studio.
Opening track ‘Faith’ effortlessly floats like a cloud in the bright blue sky – delicate vocals over jangling, shimmering guitars imbued with melancholy and an ethereal glow. There is an element of charming naïf expression – why can’t everyone feel the same – before the instrument soar in like a crashing wave. Absolutely exquisite expression of yearning and regret.
‘Away from Me’ continues with scything guitars like contrails in the sky – slightly warped and echoing. There is a hint of Alvvays in the vocals, a little Slowdive in the delivery but all with an antipodean accent. It is epic and cinematic. ‘I’m Coming Home’ draws in a shoegaze influence – walls of guitars and harmonies that deliver a euphoric blast along with jangling sounds. It’s stirring stuff: majestic and imperial.
‘Underwater’ is like a splash of cold water on the face – a hyperactive fuzzier blast that wakes you up from the reverie which segues into ‘I’m fine’ with its buried vocals and buzzing guitars has an MBV buzz saw sound with the slight warped attack that flares like a flame fed with oxygen and then comes to a sudden stop.
This is a remarkable debut.
‘Breath In….Breath Out’ is out now and available to download and stream through the link above or here.
Feature Photograph: Evie Wonder
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