Following their acclaimed debut, Howling at a Concrete Moon, a coming-of-age record that captured the disaffection of youth in austerity-era Britain, Pynch return with Beautiful Noise, set to be released on October 3. Less concerned with making sense of the world around them, their second full-length shifts its gaze inward, taking a trip through love, death, faith, and the pursuit of meaning through art.
Produced by frontman Spencer Enock in the band’s home studio, with drums recorded by Stereolab’s Andy Ramsay at Press Play Studios, Beautiful Noise is a lo-fi odyssey that feels both more intimate and more ambitious than its predecessor. Mixed by Jimmy Robertson (Fat Dog / Los Campesinos!), the album is a kaleidoscope of distortion, new-wave synths, breakbeats, and glitchy vocals presented in a playfully DIY fashion.
With their new album slowly approaching, Pynch delivers a wonderfully chaotic, breezy single with “How You Love Someone.” The latest release from Beautiful Noise showcases the band’s ability to craft radio-ready, synth-driven ballads without compromising their individuality in the burgeoning indie rock scene. Shoegaze-style vocals skate over pulsating, neon synths that collide with animated guitar riffs, creating a cacophony of sugary sounds and danceability. The synths rain down on the vocals, almost as if the band is using this rainbow of tones to hide the raw emotions of the lyrics. Pynch balances their longing and search for love with a cinematic flair for songcraft, creating a sonic juxtaposition that is immersive and captivating.
“We wanted to continue the album campaign with ‘How You Love Someone’ because it contrasts the last single (‘Post-Punk / New Wave’) and showcases the more cinematic, introspective side of our sound – a restless dissection of modern love built on lo-fi guitars and new wave synths,” says Pynch when asked about their latest single. “It’s an important part of the album’s narrative arc and one of the most personal songs we’ve written, about trying to make sense of a relationship that meant everything but couldn’t work. Self-produced and mixed in our home studio, the track climaxes with a shoegazey guitar solo before dissolving into a dreamy, heart-tugging outro, one of my favourite moments on the record.”
2 Responses
Person in Glide magazine, thanks a lot for the depth of this analysis. I am groupie of Pynch and I can tell that you took your times to listen and understand this band.
Lovely and accurate review.