After three years of honing their live sound, Stereo Telescope is set to release a full-length album, On and Running, on January 29th. This synthpop duo is composed of Nikki Dessingue and Kurt Schneider, veterans of various indie and electronic bands from the Boston scene. Each member sings and performs a host of instrumental tasks, which is quite impressive considering the complexity of their music.
With a blend of post-rock ambience and meticulous electronic instrumentation, Stereo Telescope’s sound is evocative of the Postal Service or, more recently, M83. Nikki’s strong and airy vocals hover over intricate layers of synth, and create a sound that is deep and danceable.
On and Running kicks off with “Geography.” This track has been revised over the past three years, and the album version is testament to the band’s evolution into a fuller and more balanced sound. You can listen to the new version below.
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The album is riddled with instrumental interludes, and although the sound is occasionally reminiscent of old-school video games, Stereo Telescope manages to keep it modern.
They’ve recently released a video for their single, “Fires,” which you can check out below. It’s a nice introduction to the band and the unique way they play with rhythm.
Another one of my favorite tracks on the album is “Draw Me a Sky,” but this is the kind of album that you can listen to on loop without skipping a beat.
If you enjoy their music, you can find out more about the band and preorder On and Running on their website. Stereo Telescope is also having record release events this month in Boston and New York, so you’ll have the chance to see them live.
Photos via rslblog.com and digboston.com
video via youtube.com, track via soundcloud.com
