Released only a few weeks ago in the UK, ‘Northern Lights & Southern Skies’ is the new album from indie-dreamers The Capsules. Rooted by the juxtaposition of dark instrumentation and heavenly vocal tones, the American band have the song writing expertise needed to pull off their wonderfully original sound.
‘Across The Sky’ kicks off the record with blippy synthesizers and a bass ridden backing. A mysterious introduction gives way to front-woman Julie Shields’ extremely sweet vocal lines. In terms of tone, Julie is best described as a combination of Emily Haines (Metric) and Dolores O’Riodan (The Cranberries) – an intriguing and highly desirable mix. Her melodies feature drawn out notes and seem almost meditative in the mechanic surroundings of the track, which blends dreamy midsections with complex synth riffs.
After a sultry opening, ‘From The Start’ takes on an understated feel with unobtrusive guitar riffs and drifting melodies. Exquisite vocal harmonies are formed from layer upon layer of gorgeous vocals, in a track that walks a line between hope and regret. As such, the overall feel of the track is rather unsettled and makes for an interesting listen.
The dense, swirling soundscapes of ‘Our Apocalypse’ give way to the clunky, disjointed bass line of ‘With Signs Repeating’. Occasional crashes of percussion meet more of Julie’s high vocal timbre, before a complex and echoed synth melody takes hold. Towards the end of the track, the syncopated backing fades away to leave almost unaccompanied vocals – a wonderfully ethereal moment on the record.
Fuzzy synth lines and unnerving bass are the main attractions of ‘The Heartbreaker’ , followed by the highlight of the entire release. ‘Time Will Only Tell’ features an incredibly hooky guitar part and an unfaultable vocal performance from Julie, and she delivers notes after note of crystal clear sound. The track’s panoramic and distinctly urban feel combine to something effortlessly cool, balancing calmness with a quiet air of confidence.
Several tracks on, ‘All At Once’ is similar to ‘Time Will Only Tell’ but with the addition of sci-fi synthesizers and stirring lyricism. “Scatter me like a beam of light…” is one such lyrical volley, and encapsulates the group’s ability to blend technology with human-ingenuity.
Closing off the record, ‘Magnetic Fields’ is a vocally dominated, soft little lullaby. It finishes off the album in a slow yet strikingly beautiful manner, while unveiling another side of the versatile group.
Joe Nerini
