A raucous fuzz-pop outfit, Ceylon Sailor emerged as the brainchild of New York-based multiinstrumentalist KM Sigel, conceived within the intimate confines of a lo-fi bedroom recording project. A familiar face in the vibrant NYC music scene, Sigel honed his skills as a co-founder of the now-legendary Brooklyn indie dive venue Gold Sounds.
Hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Sigel’s musical compass was firmly set on the 90s indie bands that thrived in the southeastern United States. Sporting a fervent devotion to the Elephant Six collective, his creative efforts drew from a diverse palette of influences. Melding the spirited crunch of Superchunk, the emotionally charged and horn-driven soundscape of Neutral Milk Hotel, and the infectious angularity exemplified by Archers of Loaf, Ceylon Sailor has broken plenty of new ground while devotedly celebrating the pioneering sounds of indie rock’s golden age.
Don’t let the crashing drums and breezy guitars fool you; “not where we were” is a stirring love tale of loss. Underneath the warm fuzz of the arrangement lies heartfelt songwriting that juxtaposes folksy storytelling against lo-fi rock tropes. The stirring tale allows the band’s fuzzed-out production to unfurl in a honed yet grandiose fashion. The sturdy yet neck-breaking drum work is captivating, and the subtle soaring horns add a lush texture to this jagged performance. Combine that with the soulful vocal performance, and you get an enticing indie-rock track that borrows tropes from the genre and stretches them out like they’re about to run a marathon. Ceylon Sailor was able to pull from so many influences and fit them into a tight, pop-leaning indie-rock structure, which is a testament to their artistry. Ceylon Sailor’s “not where we were” wraps the nuances of the band’s approach into a welcoming, fuzzed-out tune with infectious melodies and touching songwriting.
“‘not where we were’ is the song that brought the whole Ceylon Sailor band idea together. It’s the story of two people with a deep connection who, on their final night together, realize that they can never truly be together because their paths are pointed in opposite directions,” explains the band. “It was always intended to be a very 90s lo-fi indie rock song, a la Beulah, but became something of its own along the way. As with the other Ceylon Sailor songs, despite how it sounds, there are no electric guitars, but lots and lots of distortion nonetheless.”
