On their woozy new single, you can hear the old sound of So Nice Yesterday going up in smoke and sitar. It’s been nearly four years since the last release from the Baltimore bedroom pop duo (consisting of Berko Lover and Thom Castles), and “Visions” shows just how much they’ve grown; ahead of their upcoming EP Chant, they’ve adopted a thicker, vibey-er aesthetic laden with deep bass grooves and dub echo around Lover's hypnotic whispers.
“We knew as soon as we were finished jamming in [Castles’] studio that this song would set the tone for the entire project,” the duo share in a joint statement. “The influence of dub and ska showcases a new sound for us that felt like a start to a new chapter, and with it being forever since we’ve released music, this was the perfect way to change that.”
Chant comes out May 12 via Virginia’s Grimalkin Records, where Berko Lover—a.k.a. Tiaira Harris—serves as board chair. Best known as the former home of horrorcore rapper Backxwash, Grimalkin is an LGBTQ+-led artist collective and 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to uplift marginalized creatives. Over the past five years they’ve built a vast catalog of experimental DIY work that spans pop, R&B, ambient, dark folk, and more.
Cassette proceeds from Grimalkin releases typically go to charities chosen by the artists—owing to Harris’s position with the label, Chant tapes will support Grimalkin’s own mutual aid fundraising. You can stream “Visions” below, and pre-order Chant as a cassette, download, or lathe-cut vinyl via Bandcamp.
