Solace Sovay
Marshall, Virginia, United States
Music
Press
Describing themselves as folk rock/ indie/ experimental it’s clear that Virginians Solace Sovay aren’t ready to be pigeonholed, but then the four tracks on this demo would make that difficult in any case. Their music is guitar based but ranges from acoustic singer/ songwriter material to charged post rock freakouts, an air of melancholia pervading throughout. This is the sound of a band finding their feet but in doing so they prove that they can probably turn their hand to anything.
‘Pillow blanket or sheet’ is a simmering, down beat song, beginning with an acoustic guitar accompaniment to a vocal from David Loving that is so emotional you’ll be feeling his pain and reaching out for something to dry your eyes with. The track boils over for it’s finale as the band kick in explosively and Lovings passion turns to rage with some vocal dynamics that recall those of Cedric Bixler-Zavala but with a little more restraint. ‘See what’s shown’ is an acoustic number that bears a resemblance to Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’ as played by Plain White T’s, a subtle song with delicate words of affection delivered with the aid of some highly impressive guitar playing.
And then we have ‘Inconvenience of light’, a title with prog rock insinuations but that is pure post rock in style. It’s an instrumental that burns slowly in a psychedelic breeze through which a ghostly voice can be heard to whisper from beyond in desperate tones as though beckoning the band to take flight. For this they duly oblige as the gathering storm clouds break and Slowdive join forces with Explosions In The Sky and ride off into the night.
Finally, for ‘Remain selfish, stay inside’ the band indulge their folk leanings for an alt. country track laced with wailing pedal steel, lending an ethereal quality to a song that is otherwise the most conventional and upbeat of the four. It’s this willingness to play around with styles and atmospherics that illustrates their experimental side and that takes the music beyond genre restrictions. This is a demo that promises much for a young band who have yet to define a sound of their own, but when they do theirs will be a bright future.
by: RICHARD STOKOE
- LOSINGTODAY MAGAZINE
Discography
Magicfly City
Release date: TBA
Currently streaming all songs
Self-Titled EP 2007
Photos
Bio
Off interstate 66 in the far northern end of Virginia, a winding road leads past houses separated by farms and thickly spread trees. There, almost every night a group of young musicians practice in a garage packed with instruments and speakers. Solace Sovay’s songs come at you like a light gust of wind which gradually increases, urging you to stop and reflect on the moment.
Their first EP (self-titled) takes on an indie rock style, but with a folk rock twist. Self recorded in an unheated garage in the dead of winter, the young musicians would spend weeks layering different instruments on to a simple machine. Electric and acoustic guitars are binned together with percussion, heart shaking bass, echoing pianos, wailing pedal steels and a haunting cello. Classify them as you like, because I know they won’t care.
Links
