Launder Happening [ARTPL-173] Japan Music CD

Product Description
Content Introduction A shocking sound that stirs the emotions as 90s lo-fi and shoegaze intersect! A stunning debut album that incorporates alternative, shoegaze, and dream pop! Launder, the project of LA-based John Cudlip, has signed with Ghostly International and completed a shocking debut album. Sonny DiPerri (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, DIIV) handled co-production, engineering, and mixing, with guest appearances from French-born singer-songwriter/actress Soko and close friend Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV! Launder is a project by John Cudlip, originally from Orange County and now based in LA. It originally stemmed from casual sessions in 2019 with friends such as Day Wave (Jackson Phillips), French-born singer-songwriter/actress Soko, and Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV, and developed into Launder. After approximately three years and 60 demo tracks, Launder signed with Ghostly International and finally completed their full-length debut album, "Happening." Co-produced, engineered, and mixed by Sonny DiPerri, known for his work with My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, and DIIV, the album features recording members Chase Meier (bass), Bryan DeLeon (drums), and Nathan Hawelu (lead guitar) and was recorded at New Monkey Studio, a vintage analog/modern digital recording studio in Van Nuys, California, formerly owned by Elliott Smith. And of course, Soko and Zachary Cole Smith make guest appearances. Launder's music has attracted more attention than expected from the start, with Stereogum describing it as "where 90s lo-fi and shoegaze intersect," and Gorilla vs. Bear noting John's "sense of making these songs feel like you've known them forever, with melancholy and soaring choruses." Taking a break from live performances in 2020, he immersed himself in composing and arranging his overflowing ideas. He dedicated his thoughts to melodies and textures, putting all his resources into production gear, and every sound, noise, and even humming on this album became his world. The result is a full album of 13 tracks. "Happening" transcends time, focusing on something bigger than melody?catharsis and tenderness?and is based on a modern and careful self-reflection while paying homage to great indie rock artists. "Compared to releasing EPs and 7-inch records, I feel like I've evolved into a more independent artist, but I couldn't have made this record without the band," he says. "Rehearsing with the band breathed life into the songs, it was like a switch was flipped." The opening track, "Unwound," has a punchy and uplifting hook that makes for a fitting start. As he described the early demo of this song as "arena rock," the way it fills the space with crunchy guitar riffs is impressive, and it's a compelling track that could serve as an album opener, like Nirvana's "Serve the Servants," The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Darklands," or The Stone Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored." It's truly an introduction that condenses the quiet and powerful songwriting of his younger days. In "Blue Collar," an ode to loneliness written on an old guitar in his hometown of Dana Point, feedback swells and it's played with an unconventional tuning. He commented, "When I'm writing a song, I sometimes loop a part of it for about 30 minutes until I'm in a hypnotic state, and that happened here too. I don't know where this riff came from, but it's one of my favorite songs on this album." In "On A Wire," his lyrics resonate with the guitar's expression, evoking "every little bit of you," and the song features a dynamic shift between gentle melodies and noisy guitar. "Become," with French artist Soko on lead vocals, features vocals layered over a bassline woven between shimmering and shattering guitars. "This song was the most collaborative on the album, and I was very happy that it worked out," he says. "Chipper," one of the shortest and sweetest tracks on the album, combines subtle downcast guitar phrases with clear pop sensibilities. Its concise structure reveals both bold confidence and a nonchalant coolness. It's a love song that seems to denounce fleeting desires. While debut albums are often full of raw potential, Launder has created a deeply polished collection. This album is both process-oriented and a work of art that matures alongside the artist, featuring the sound of a songwriter challenging their own limits with thrilling and anthemic developments. It's the birth of a highly anticipated talent who will undoubtedly lead the alternative and indie scene of the 2020s. Media reviews and more: A shocking sound that stirs the emotions, where 90s lo-fi and shoegaze intersect! A stunning debut album that encompasses alternative, shoegaze, and dream pop! LA-based John Cudlip's project, Launder, has signed with Ghostly International and completed a stunning debut album. Sonny DiPerri (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, DIIV) handled co-production, engineering, and mixing, with guest appearances from French-born singer-songwriter/actress Soko and close friend Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV! (C)RS