BEWILDER - From the Eyrie

 

New album by Southampton duo Bewilder from Tiny Engines label

The duo comprise of vocalist/guitarist George Brooks and multi-instrumentalist Thom Wilkinson, whom have been performing as Bewilder for over a decade now. The LP From the Eyrie showcases a sophisticated more mature focus of the pair due to the nature of its genesis.

Demos for the songs started to appear in 2019, where the pair would send demos to each other. This had to continue during the global lockdown of 2020. For example, 'Twin Lakes' was finished in May 2020 and with the sweeping violins enwrapped in the final track, the intention was to create a full long playing album. Brooks, a long time fan of emo bands such as Jimmy Eat World and American Football, the goal was to make an album of feeling but remaining fresh and original.

Songs that are full of originality, it is somewhat befitting the film that has this warmth and good-feeling running through the sequencing is released during the late period Indian summer we are experiencing in the UK currently. While the political landscape may seem murky and unchartered, the release of music such as this from the South Coast offers hope and sunshine, as Brooks and Wilkinson channel these notions of nostalgia (as the album cover attests to) and nature. 

From album opener 'Heavy Sweater' there is a warmth from the opening arpeggios, strings soar on 'Breaking' and in 'Home' you have acoustic traditional folk. This all marks the album out as one that is a gateway to your new favourite band, and yet a duo that seemingly has so much left in the locker to explore and discover.

FROM THE EYRIE is out via Tiny Engines on all platforms from October 6th