The name Packaging may connote a cynical mindset about the music industry, but the music that the duo Daniel Lyon (Spirit Award) and Daniel “Connor” Birch (Flaural) make is far from cynical. Instead, it’s a passionate merging of elements from their distinct voices: krautrock chug, psychedelic swirl, electronic grandeur, and tuneful accessibility, with a pinch of bristling self-awareness sprinkled on top.
Their debut self-titled album is a suite of emotionally resonant songs about disconnection, ennui, and restless movement. Featuring several musical contributors, including Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic), Ash Reiter (Sugar Candy Mountain), James Barone (Beach House), and Andy Rauworth (Gauntlet Hair). The album, like actual packaging, is a tactile experience. The album is scheduled for release on October 10.
With pulsating drums and warping vocals, Packaging creates a dark, eerie, and danceable atmosphere on “Running Through the Airport.” The duo captures the urgency of the situation the song is titled after and adds a psychedelic flair via hushed, warping vocals and twinkling nuances. At the heart of the performance are thudding, groovy drums that roll over the listener the same way an ominous storm appears over mountain tops, encapsulating the intricacies of “Running Through the Airport.” Underneath the looming drums are vocal melodies that swirl around the haunting simplicity, dense synths that elevate the heart-pounding drums, and lyrics that transport the listener to an alien world that somehow still feels like home. Therein lies the magic of Packaging’s new single. The band takes the familiarity of everyday happenings and filters them through their lofty sonic visions, giving “Running Through the Airport” that undeniable infectiousness. If this is just a hint as to what to expect from Packaging’s self-titled debut, we are in for a jaw-dropping listening experience.
“I was flying from Seattle to Denver to record with Connor at the post-production studio he works at, Post Haus. I was late for my flight, so I had to do the cliche ‘missing flight run,’” explains Lyon. “When I arrived at the studio, I told Connor point blank, ‘Song title: Running Through the Airport.’ I think we tried to write another song and named it this for a day, but it just didn’t have that feel. Finally, after a long day of writing and tracking, we took a bar break.
“Returning exhausted, we tried to see if we could squeeze out any other ideas,” continues Lyon. “Probably around 3 am, we began playing this bass line and synth parts after a while of being in a sort of sleepy-flow state. Things just clicked into place, the vibe and feeling we had been trying to conjure. We later decided to hand over this song to our friend Andy Rouworth (Gauntlet Hair, Cindygod) to write some guitar and bridge parts, as well as mix the song.
