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Is Bliss ‘Velvet Dreams EP’ to be Released in Octo...

Is Bliss ‘Velvet Dreams EP’ to be Released in October

Local psychedelic shoegazer trio Is Bliss returned with a new line up and new material about a year ago and are soon to release their new ‘Velvet Dreams EP’ on the 21st of October. The original 4 piece then 3 piece a few years ago released ‘Desire’ on Strong Island Recordings in 2013 but then soon after went on hiatus. Now back with Jimmy Stuart (vox, guitar), Dean Edwards (bass) and Sam Speakman (drums), Is Bliss have already opened for Wolf Alice, Telescopes, Nine Black Alps, Mark Gardener and Robin Guthrie. Many bands today cite My Bloody Valentine as a major influence, but Is Bliss exist because Dean clocked Jimmy’s MBV t-shirt and when they struck up a conversation they discovered a shared a love of Slowdive, Spacemen 3, Verve and The Cure. This first clutch of new songs was developed through live improvisation, but then taken to the next level by Pat Collier (The House Of Love, Primal Scream, Swervedriver).

‘Velvet Dreams EP’ will be released on Club AC30 and is a tantalising taster of the band’s potential. It’s atmosphere resonates strongly with the hazy sixties underground, with its sitar-like waterfall guitars and hypnogogic beats, but other, harder influences bleed through. From the intense hit of fuzzed-up anger on ‘Truth’, through to yearning, soaring dream-pop gorgeousness of ‘Lure’ and lead track ‘Ocean Blue’, this release sets out to show Is Bliss’ full range and depth. You can listen to the awesome ‘Ocean Blue’ below and catch Is Bliss live at the following local shows:

Saturday 24th September – Edge of the Wedge – Southsea Psych Out
Saturday 28th January – The Fat Fox, Southsea – Icebreaker Festival 2017


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