Dripping with incandescent reverb, walls of scything guitars and layers of glorious harmonies, Launder has just released dynamic double singles ‘Unwound’ and ‘Chipper’ ahead of the release of debut album ‘Happening’ out on 15 July 2022 through Ghostly International (Hana Vu, Gold Panda, Tycho). Launder is essentially the work of John Cudlip, with collaborations on the single with DIIV’s Zachary Cole and Colin Caulfield.
The two singles are immense: massive walls of sound echoing with shimmering guitars and a low key subtle and layered vocals in the classic shoegaze/dream pop vein.
‘Unwound’ is a restrained and liquid piece resting on rolling, jangling guitars that give way to Cudlip’s coasting, reflective vocals and a piercing languid guitar riff. The track ebbs and flows with an intensity. While there are detectable elements of Slowdive and their ilk, there is also a steel spine redolent of the Smashing Pumpkins:
Second single ‘Chipper’ feature sky scraping guitars, a faster pace with layered harmonies that create a dreamy fugue with an MBV fuzziness. It’s short, sharp and dynamic bliss:
‘Happening’ is available to pre-order and pre-save here and through the link below:
Cudlip says of ‘Happening’:
I feel like I’ve evolved into a much more self-reliant writer compared to the EP and 7-inch releases but I couldn’t have made this record without the band. The songs came to life in the rehearsal space with them, it was like a light switch went on.
To record the album, Cudlip and collaborators — including Chase Meier (bass), Bryan DeLeon (drums), Nathan Hawelu (lead guitar), French artist Soko (who takes the lead vocal duties on ‘Become’) — joined co-producer, engineer, and mixer Sonny DiPerri (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, DIIV) at New Monkey Studio, the vintage analog/modern digital recording studio in Van Nuys, California once owned by Elliott Smith.
Feature Photograph: Cameron McCool
