London’s The Death of Pop do not practice what they preach. Despite their prophetic name, the outfit have been crafting lusciously lo-fi jangle gems for a few years now, with releases on Art is Hard, Discos De Kirlian, Too Pure and Leisure Records proving that the genre’s demise is anything but certain.
Not that the simple term ‘pop’ gets close to The Death of Pop sound. Featuring three brothers, Angus James (guitar and vocals), Oliver James (guitar and vocals), Thom James (drums), alongside Richard Dent (bass), the band have developed a distinctive brand of shoegaze-inflected goodness. Squeezing every ounce of musicality out of their collective talents, the result is a rich, shimmering warmth, tracks so vivid so as to have the kind of gauzy texture that nostalgic memories are cast in.
This week sees the release of a brand new album from The Death of Pop with our good friends at Hidden Bay Records. To be released digitally and on cassette, Six feels like a traditional tape release, the songs curated into Side A and Side B with a care that is seldom seen in the age of downloads and streaming. Though some of the track appeared on the Discos De Kirlian compilations, they have been reworked and re-recorded to form a seamless twenty-five minutes of tropical warmth, though the atmosphere distorts into a dark cacophony by the close.
The release was recorded live in session at Viva Recorders, and we’re delighted to be able to share a video for ‘Last’, the closing track of the tape’s Side A. The perfect introduction for the uninitiated, the track is a woozily wistful jam that seems conjured from a late summer evening—emotions cast in a sultry, syrupy sheen by long shadows and humid air.
Six will be released on the 12th April via Hidden Bay Records and you can pre-order it from Bandcamp. Also, be sure to delve into The Death of Pop’s back catalogue via their page.
Photo and art by George Abram