Premiere: Former Faces, ‘Swimming in Circles’ (full EP)
Kevin Bronson on
0
Ryan Parmenter, the sonic architect of Former Faces, says his musical mission is to blur the line between reality and subconscious. Indeed, on his debut EP “Swimming in Circles” (out Friday), the singer-songwriter/producer has created the best in headphones experiences — music that makes you forget headphones are even a thing. Former Faces’ dream-pop, equal parts contemporary electronica and time-honored psychedelia, comes with some existential heft. “I’ve been swimming in circles / aiming for the waves,” Parmenter sings in “Weekend Mountain Man,” a relatable plight no matter your state of consciousness. The EP’s opener “Back Up a Minute” suggests a momentary loss of both time and place, sailing weightlessly “down the same road” on celestial guitar and a featherbed of atmospherics.
“Swimming in Circles” was solely Parmenter’s studio creation, but now David Lee, Brian Blake and Abraham Kim have joined him in the project. “‘Swimming in Circles’ marks the end of the first leg of the Former Faces journey but it’s really just the beginning of our adventure,” the frontman says. “When I began the project I never envisioned I’d end up working and performing with such talented musicians. I’m very excited to transition into a more collaborative approach to songwriting, recording, and producing with these guys.”
||| Stream: “Swimming in Circles” in its entirety
||| Live: Former Faces celebrate their EP release with a show Monday at the Hi Hat, joined by Greyface and Ghost Pavilion. Tickets.
||| Previously: “Back Up a Minute”
Leave a Reply