Kevin Bronson on July 22nd, 2019

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NGELS are not the first band to sing “light my fire,” nor are they the first to suggest that we should “get higher and higher.” But the new pop-rock project from L.A.-via-Utah singer-songwriter Tyler Godfrey is probably the first to make those things sound like a psychedelic-pop séance-turned-disco afterparty.

“Higher” is NGELS’ first single, and it’s a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist/producer Clint Holgate. After the duo met in L.A., they decamped to Salt Lake City, where beginning in 2017 they began recording in Holgate’s studio. Andrew Tolman (The Moth & the Flame, Mondo Cozmo) contributed drums and Drew Beck (Mondo Cozmo) bass on the tracks.

“Higher” introduces itself with skittish synths and Godfrey’s needy falsetto before bursting skyward into a horn-accented, disco-soul chorus. It’s not so reverent that you’d slap it in the middle of your dance greats of the 1970s playlist, but on their debut track NGELS (pronounce it like the heavenly creatures) have the energy to make you do a little dance, or make a little love.

||| Stream: “Higher”