CARDIFF duo Ritual Cloak is the meeting of Daniel Barnett, formerly of Samoans, and drummer and producer Andrew Sanders, in which musical space between them they find some pretty beguiling, post-rock cinemascapes.
They’ve followed up the massive, brooding soundscapes of their previous single, “Opaque Crater”, with a new drop, “White Noise”, which sees them push out in a more cooltempo electronica direction.
Written from the perspective of a close friend of the band before he died, and drawing on real-life conversations, the track marks the duo’s first use of lyrics; there’s that hook line, the staccato chant of “I wish I could be someone else”, wrapped in an almost dancefloor tronica – think a more introspective Hot Chip, keyboard motifs pulsing.
The pair first crossed paths in the fertile Welsh underground music scene in 2013, when Daniel answered an ad for a guitarist to join Jemma Roper’s backing band; there was a connection of like minds, forged over a love of the potential of leftfield electronica.
The track was completed just a couple of days before the untimely death of their friend, Chris, who was its inspiration.
Given he was such a big supporter of the band, it’s a massive shame he was never able to hear it. Naturally, it is dedicated to him.
“White Noise” is out across all digital streaming platforms today via Bubblewrap Collective, with an album, Divine Invasions, following on May 7th.
Connect with Ritual Cloak online at their website, at Bandcamp, on Facebook and Twitter.
