Today, Real Numbers have shared their stop motion video for “Brighter Then” and have announced a new Slumberland Records 12″ EP via FLOOD. Brighter Then is out on January 22, 2020 via Slumberland Records.
Regarding the origin of the lead single, Eli stated: “It all started at our old rehearsal space, the basement of the now defunct DIY venue Coming Soon,” he shares. “It was late 2016 and we had finished recording Wordless Wonder and were having these very sporadic, unfocused practices, so I just started playing this riff over and over. The jam didn’t really go anywhere, but I knew this riff was special and deserved attention. Over the course of the following year I came up with an intro/outro and a vocal melody, culminating as a barely passable live version at a basement show in December 2017. After I finished the lyrics, Ian recorded a demo version of it in 2018 that sounded great, but also exposed some weak spots—like the key we’d been playing it in. We even made a couple changes to the bass and synth arrangements while recording this, the final version—and I tell ya, I think it’s perfect.”
Bio:
Following on from 2016’s Wordless Wonder LP and 2017’s “Frank Infatuation” single, Minneapolis’ Real Numbers are back with a brand new EP entitled Brighter Then. In the interim the combo has expanded to a 5-piece, adding Sophie Durbin on keyboards. Brighter Then was recorded over winter 2019/2020 and shows the band journeying deeper into late 80’s indie-pop than ever before.
The lyrics on the EP see Eli Hansen take a more personal and introspective tack revolving around relationships, shifting perspectives, and memories. The title track, which has been crafted slowly over the last few years around its circular lead, tackles the subject of evolving friendships – losses, gains and the acceptance of the present – and channels Sarah favorites The Wake and Brighter.
“Old Cross” and “In The End” were co-authored by Eli and Cameron Soojian and feature Cam’s distinctive lead guitar, while “Darling” is nothing short of a pure pop gem. The EP’s production finds the band at their most crisp thanks to Matt Castore and his A Harder Commune studios, and the 45rpm 12″ vinyl pressing showcases the tunes at their best. While never straying too far from their scrappy DIY roots, Real Numbers have broadened their sound with assurance, and fans of Felt and the Field Mice will be pleased with the results.
