Hailing from the mystic landscapes of Joshua Tree, This Lonesome Paradise is the visionary project of E. Ray Béchard (vocals/guitar) weaving a sonic tapestry of reverb-soaked reckoning, smoldering lounge allure, and the haunting echoes of Western noir. The ensemble is rounded out by Jordin Bordeaux (keys/vocals), Ivan Garcia (drums), Chris Wilson (bass), and Herb Benham IV (slide guitar), crafting a soundscape as dark and moody as it is cinematic. Their music conjures the raw, visceral intensity of a Cormac McCarthy novel and the surreal, poetic mystery of a David Lynch film.
Currently a hidden gem, This Lonesome Paradise is captivating the minds and hearts of those fortunate enough to encounter their work. Their forthcoming record, Luna Nocturna, is a rich blend of soul, goth, and trip-hop, all woven with their signature neo-western twang. It stands as their most wounded, raw, and inventive creation yet.
This Lonesome Paradise looks at their country influences differently. Rather than borrow from the surface-level tropes, they put themselves in the shoes of their influences as they look out at the genre’s expansive possibilities. Their new single, “Into the Ether,” captures their psychedelic creativity in sprawling form as they kick up nostalgic dust with modern tricks. The slow-burning ballad is in no rush as the baritone vocals crawl through hypnotic drums and eerie yet warm backing vocals. The nuances of how this song unfold is where This Lonesome Paradise begin to separate themselves from their peers. In a burgeoning country scene filled with bright pop influences and quick, catchy hooks, “Into the Ether” answers the prayers of longtime country fans for something refreshing. The imaginative narrative creeps into your ears as you get lost in the whirling guitars, creating an inviting and alien atmosphere that employs unrecognizable colors to achieve this otherworldly sound. This Lonesome Paradise created a stunning country ballad with mesmerizing vocals and a spacious arrangement that elevate each other to the unfamiliar yet enticing sonic landscape displayed on “Into The Ether.”
“‘Into The Ether’ is a story of love gone wrong…a woman who revenges her murder from the grave by shapeshifting into an animal via postmortem witchcraft,” explains frontman Béchard. “An occult noir tale from the bowels of the ether vortex.”
