(This feature originally appeared in issue #63 of Shindig! magazine. For the full unpublished interview click over the jump at the bottom of the post.)
Philadelphian
collective make wintry psych-folk with a nod to the occult and nature
mysticism. Duncan Fletcher feels the icy chill.
“A
musician I admire told me that influence could be split into two
categories: ghost and substance. Substance could be the conscious
decision, as in, the songs were written largely with a folk palette,
and we had some shared influences in mind. But ghost is harder to
trace. It's the conscious or unconscious influence of a much broader
palette. Ghost is about aesthetic or feeling, not discrete sounds...
I'd argue we're driven more by ghost than by substance.”
So
says bassist Jacob Brunner talking about the range of musical
backgrounds that shape Shadow Band's modernised take on '70s
acid-folk. Hear it for yourself on their new single 'Eagle Unseen'
which, according to vocalist and songwriter Mike Bruno, was inspired
by “the current dark age we live in, the toxic political climate
and perpetual warring... the thankless will to do just and good in a
bad world as one's only hope for personal salvation, and nature's
gathering response to our abuse unto her.”
The
video for the single's other track 'Moonshine' was filmed in the
band's residence and creative hub, a townhouse called Castle
Corbenic. It's the ultimate hippy hangout crammed with books, LPs and
exotic musical instruments. Keyboardist Morgan Morel expands -
“Corbenic is located in an as of yet unnamed neighbourhood in South
Philly. There's a vibrant mix of people from around the world, with
an energy that borders on chaotic. It's comforting to think that
within the walls of Corbenic we've created a microcosm of our
surroundings.”
Tellingly
the house also contains a raft of vintage guitar amps. Not surprising
for a band who cite Black Sabbath as a major influence. Jacob
explains - “I'd say we're plugged in more often than not. We've
played punishingly loud and feather-soft in the same show. It's hard
to say where the folk ends and the rock begins!”
'Eagle
Unseen' b/w 'Moonshine' is out now on Mexican Summer. A full-length
LP Wilderness of Love is also now available.
Click over the jump for the full interview.
