EP Premiere: Julian — ‘Longing’
Posted: by The Editor
Photo by Alyssa Rorke
If you follow underground guitar music, there’s a damn good chance that Philly-by-way-of-Washington, D.C.’s Julia Leiby has photographed at least half of your favorite bands. When they aren’t busy capturing the essence of the people behind some of the best art to come from the East Coast, they make at once flowery and spunky music under the moniker Julian. Partnering with guitarist Brendan Principato, drummer Abbie Jones, and bassist Drew Sher, Julian’s latest, Longing, is a brief-but-captivating self-released EP that follows 2018’s Fire Talk-distributed Real Distance. The record finds Leiby and their collaborators honing in on a sound that is as twee as it is rock and roll.
Longing opens with the dreamy “Out There,” a soaring mid tempo ripper that recalls Veronica Falls or Black Tamborine. It evokes the early spring blossoms that peek through on sunny, late winter days. Similarly, “Plant A Tree” is an echoing dream pop track whose uniquely processed vocals find Julian embracing simultaneously chilly and sunny sonics. Best of all, the closer “Bike” is a shimmering and emotive slice of nostalgia. Tied together by a spellbindingly murky production style, Julian’s latest contains layered oceanic depths. Similarly to their work with a camera, Leiby’s songwriting as Julian captures the magic of alternative music in real time.
Stream Longing below. It’s one of the most engrossing indie rock EPs of the year so far.
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Ted Davis | @tddvsss
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