Psych-folk group DG Solaris delivers a unique and refreshing spin on the classic indie genre through their debut album Spirit Glow. Hailing from South London, the band weaves beautiful harmonies through retrospective melodies to create a warming quilt of stories. Their sound could be found in an alternate universe where psychedelic Pink Floyd collided with a slowed down version of The Civil Wars.
The album is chalked full of memorable moments starting with the opening track, “Cosmic Sigh Of Relief”. With only a few notes, the melody instantly pulls in listeners to begin posing spiritual and existential questions of love and life. The vocals mix together like melted butter, supported by a simple acoustic guitar. The melody stays dreamy as the instruments pick up energy and speed, hitting a mountaintop climax as the lyrics proclaim: “is that a cosmic sigh of relief / you just made me make / an existential sigh of belonging / how did I find you.”
DG Solaris doesn’t just relax in this dreamy soundscape, but pushes themselves further on tunes like the dark and moody “As Many As The Stars”. This song is built on anticipation, holding out notes for so long that the listener is on the edge of their seat, waiting for the explosion. It is a slow burn as instruments are layered one by one, synths piling on top of each other with an erratic sense of running out of time. Just when it seems like the moment for growth has come, everything drops to a lone voice. The harmonies sneak in slowly, the lyrics circle in repetition, and the synths begin swirling in space once more. The song floats through a deep ocean of uncertainty and timelessness.
It seems working through this handful of genres isn’t quite enough for the band, and they expand into a jazzy James Taylor sound on “Forgiveness”. The hypnotic guitar and lyrics are what make this track stand out among the others. The song twists and turns, never going where it seems it will. A drum kit is added and quickly taken away during a brief musical interlude, a flute harmonizes behind the lead vocals, and all the while the guitar and piano hold down the fort. DG Solaris wraps up their LP with the beautifully celtic-esque tune “I Will Hold You”. Forgoing all bells and whistles, they build this final song with two voices, an acoustic guitar, and chirping birds. The melody is echoed on guitar as the voices murmur a gentle love song: “Collecting fruits and grains and sweet leaves with your hands / and softly love me as I love you / as I love you”.
Stream Spirit Glow below via Bandcamp! To purchase Spirit Glow click HERE.
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