It is always fascinating to see how fluid some musicians are, how they adapt and recreate themselves and how they can jump / slide between different musical genres, albeit some manage to do this much better than others. Equally interesting is how the end of one project / band often leads to launching another new project (or several) or even leads to an artist becoming involved in (and even transforming) already-existing projects. No stranger to all of the above processes – not only in the past but even now as a participant in multiple music projects – is one William Faith of Chicago, previously of Los Angeles. Currently of post-punk / alternative rock five-piece The Bellwether Syndicate and formerly of Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, Shadow Project and Faith & The Muse, his namesake project.
Today we have the pleasure of introducing you to the new single from The Bellwether Syndicate –‘Golden Age’ also happens to be the final single from their ‘Vestige & Vigil’ album, which will see the light of day on April 28 via Sett Records in North America and elsewhere via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe. This is a fabulous and warm offering, melodic on par with 4AD faves Modern English and walking a fine line (with clever lyrics that seem to hold a lot of wisdom) between nostalgia and appreciation for the present. A superb offering that leaves much to look forward to with their new album.
As for the video, it’s pretty cool and shows the band in multiple scenes across their most recent tour (it literally just ended a few days ago) with long-time touring matest The Clan of Xymox. The imagery is great, as is the editing and transitions. Well done to the whole team who put this together – director William Faith and those who came up with the film footage – Sarah Rose Faith, Kristen Chiacchia, Hani von Gehenna and William Faith with still images by Bobby Talamine, Kristen Chiacchia and James Currie.
Based in Chicago, The Bellwether Syndicate is William Faith (vox, guitars), Sarah Rose Faith (vox, guitars), Philly Peroxide (keyboards, percussion), Stevyn Grey (drums) and Corey Gorey (guitars). Formerly of seminal goth actsWilliam Faith moved from his native LA to Chicago in 2010, forming The Bellwether Syndicate with Sarah Rose Faith a.k.a. Scary Lady Sarah, one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters and host ofNocturna, the longest-running goth event in North America.
Six years in the making, the ‘Vestige & Vigil’ LP was produced by William Faith, whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, and Chad Blinman (Face To Face, Faith and The Muse, Jarboe). Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago, it was mixed by Blinman at The Eye Socket. This album comes 9 years after debuting with ‘The Night Watch’ EP and four years since their latest single, ‘Republik’.
“Golden Age’ is a rare gift in that I received nearly the entire song in a dream… The beat, the guitar and bass melody, and the chorus lyric were all just there in my head when I woke up and, without saying a word to Sarah, I ran down to the studio to capture it before I lost it,” explains William Faith.
“It has a haunting quality which felt very nostalgic to me, so the lyric is really about the danger of getting lost in nostalgia and losing the present as a result. This is a conversation we have a lot, as so many people seem to stop looking ahead, content to rummage through the past. I’ve always said that tomorrow is way more interesting to me than yesterday, so this song warns about getting stuck there. As for the chorus, it’s anyone’s guess what it means, as it’s all a dream!”
This single follows singles ‘We All Rise’ (a tale of hope and struggle, of inner-courage and rage for what could be),‘Beacons’ (its ‘set adrift’ narrative supported by liquid, chorused guitars and distress-signal bass and synth) and the glam-noir lead track‘Dystopian Mirror’.
As of March 31, ‘Golden Age’ will be available from all fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where the other singles can also be found. The full ‘Vestige & Vigil’ album will be released on April 28.
CREDITS
Written and performed by The Bellwether Syndicate
Produced by William Faith & Chad Blinman
Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago
Mixed by Chad Blinman at The Eye Socket
Additional programming and treatments by Chad Blinman
Mastered by Josh Sebek
William Faith – Vox and guitars
Sarah Rose Faith – Vox and guitars
Corey Gorey – Guitars (live)
Philly Peroxide – Keyboards and percussion (live)
Stevyn Grey – Drums (live)
‘Dystopian Mirror’ video filmed by William Faith & David Staudacher
‘Beacons’ video filmed by William Faith & Sarah Rose Faith
‘We All Rise’ video filmed by Sidney Strong
All videos directed by William Faith
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