Swallow/Neon Yellow Vinyl

Description

Steve Queralt is the bassist of the iconic English shoegaze band Ride, which has been enjoying a remarkable resurgence over the past decade. Recorded over an eight-year period, Swallow is his very first solo album, influenced by dark post-punk, post-rock and electronic pop, with guest vocals from Emma Anderson (Lush) and Verity Susman (Electrelane). Recommended for fans of M83, Mogwai or Joy Division. “Swallow” was slowly but surely built over the past five years, between Ride albums and tours, and perhaps because of that, has a slightly dystopian, Blade Runner-like atmosphere, reflecting the liminal spaces in which it was created. Despite most of the album being instrumental, these dark, lunar soundtracks are full of power and emotion. When words appear, an underlying anger and political direction emerge, further amplifying the album’s dark intensity. This is especially noticeable on the final track, “Motor Boats,” where he inserts words from Julie Sheldon’s polemical poem “The Same Boat” (“We’re all in the same boat, they say, but I would disagree”). According to Steve, these simple words of dissent “perfectly capture the reality of our time.” However, it was the collaboration with the two guest singers that made it possible to bring everything together and pave the way for the final album.