Based in Portland, Oregon, Simple Shapes started out as a partnership between guitarist and singer Pete Bensen and multi-instrumentalist Jeremiah Larsen, though soon expanded to include Elly Swope (guitar/synths) and Tanner Jason (bass). Following on from debut single ‘NE Sandy’ released last year, the band have signed with Brooklyn/Houston label Rue Defense for a full length record.
The album isn’t out until next year, though today Simple Shapes unveil the lead single ‘Shorty McFly’ by way of introduction. With its acoustic opening, the song stands in contrast to the propulsive momentum of ‘NE Sandy’, though it sooner coalesces into a suitably energetic rhythm. And where the previous track had a certain lo-fi texture, the sound is now far deeper and richer, weaving a sound both vivid and immediate. Drawing the listener into the world of the track, a soundscape which shifts and changes around them.
This direct and disorientating style emerges from the underpinning themes too. An exploration of ghosts in their various guises, Simple Shapes use the imagery of paranormal TV shows to evoke the experience of being ghosted in a relationship. The wistful, nostalgic edge to the track speaks to the inherently backward-looking nature of both experiences, while the rising intensity carries the visceral impact of raw emotions. Be it the trauma of sudden absences, or absences suddenly filled.
