Following on from 2012’s EP debut, Human Beings, and the release of PYYRAMIDS‘ class introduction track, Don’t Go, the duo are back with their long overdue debut album, Brightest Darkest Day. Citing influences from first-wave British post-punk and 80’s Manchester bands, and melding it with more modern, sparse sounds the album is one to look out for based on the preview tracks released in advance of the album launch.
Set for release on the 9th April 2013, Brightest Darkest Day is the work of OK Go bassist, Tim Nordwind, combined with the electro-pop soul of Drea Smith from He Say/She Say. Released on Paracadute, the first listens hint at affinities to The Kills in parts, especially on the opening track from the stream of songs below, Do You Think You’re Enough.
Drea Smith’s vocals are lush and sultry, but their also crisp and sharp giving the tracks a firm standing in modern sounds without losing their hold on the past. They intertwine well with Nordwind’s bare guitar and bass style, which jumps moves effortlessly between heavy tones and understated, quieter moments of clarity.
Brightest Darkest Day was recorded in Nordwind’s basement studio as well as a some of the final tracks at Dan Konopka’s (OK Go) studio, with mixing duties split between Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips and MGMT) and Konopka. As the name would suggest, PYYRAMIDS have searched for a mix of light and shade, with Drea Smith explaining, “There’s a pop sensibility to the album that’s bright but the sound and delivery is very dark”.
You’ve only got to look at single, Don’t Go to see this in action, with mesmeric pop linking up with a guitar mid section that verges on the industrial side of the tracks.
They’ll be previewing their new material at SXSW in Austin, Texas during the long March festival, so hopefully they’ll be bringing their brand of darkened pop with modern landscapes to the UK in the not too distant future. The only downside is the excessive love of capitalisation, but we’ve just about forgiven them for that.
