"A fascinating and satisfying listen... This is among the best tracks introduced thus far in 2022" ~ The Spill Magazine
"Catchy as hell... Invigorating and its melodicism is laced with sonic reverie... delicate textural synthesizers, energetic drums and rhythm interlace with a balanced sense of space and sincere introspective lyrics" ~ Big Takeover Magazine
"Collect Call is a balm for our trouble times" ~ Undercurrent Magazine
"Sweet, thoughtful and quirky... wistful and nostalgic and romantic as well" ~ God is in the TV
"Serenading the ears and imagination, Collect Call makes for a rather fascinating and tantalising listen" ~ Amplify Music Magazine
Brighton-based electronic dreampop / indietronic project Collect Call presents the single 'No Amount of Medicine', a beautiful slice of indie pop from the 'The Golden Hour' EP. Earlier, Collect Call released the fragile, yet whimsical, single 'Chase The Light' and the ultra-catchy and endearing single 'Simple'.
Collect Call is the solo project of Brighton-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Joseph Thorpe. Creating electronic dream pop that ranges from soft and sensitive to loud and bombastic, his delicate textural synthesisers, energetic drums and rhythm interlace with a balanced sense of space and sincere introspective lyrics.
"No Amount of Medicine was written during the initial stages of the pandemic; a song that is centered around keeping yourself removed from people for fear of this newly discovered virus, but also a distance that was creating space between my partner at the time. No Amount of Medicine can make it sweet enough, the idea that no matter how hard you try to fix things or sweeten a seemingly bad situation it won't become the idealized thing you had in mind. The line was also partly inspired by a famous tune from the Disney adaptation of "Mary Poppins" (I'm sure I don't need to name the one) but I'm sure that Julie Andrews would probably pass if I had asked her to sing on this one," says Joseph Thorpe.
"This song went through several iterations before I felt like I had really nailed the atmosphere and made it coherent with the rest of the songs on the EP, it's by far the oldest song on there. The biggest struggle for me was trying to blend all of these elements (the trip-hop samples, bleakly emotive strings and looped frenetic guitars) with the rest of Collect Call sound. I'm really proud of the final track and how it allowed me to expand upon my sound in areas I didn't even think were possible."
'The Golden Hour' EP is a romantic, nostalgic journey through sound that is about embodying the dying embers of the day and not giving up the ghost when all might seem lost. Thorpe’s music is a beacon for like-minded people, standing its ground with whimsical, lo-fi electronic beats and sincere vocals.
Recorded across a mixture of cupboards, attics and studios, Thorpe meticulously sculpted this EP at Brighton Electric Studios with the help of collaborator Kianna Blue (The Academy of Sun). TAOS bandmate Ash Babb also contributed the cover artwork for this EP. Creating a space for candid self-expression and nuanced vulnerability, Thorpe's music is inspired by Sufjan Stevens and Air, this new 4-track offering is as experimental as it is emotive.
"The recording of this EP came at a point where I was feeling very lost as a musician and writer. I had been sitting on a large collection of songs and wanted to try every conceivable avenue I could musically that didn't really have any sense of cohesion... The Golden Hour for me is a cathartic reminder of staying true to yourself, chasing the light as it fades over the hill and that sometimes less can indeed be more," says Joseph Thorpe.
Collect Call debuted with the single 'Rain: Stop' in June 2020, followed by 'Pretense' that October. Utilising his expansive, eclectic musical knowledge and experience, Thorpe creates cathartic soundscapes involving lucid pianos and enchanting vocals that are the perfect companion in times of loneliness.
'The Golden Hour' is out now, available digitally across online stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Written, produced and mixed by Joseph Thorpe
Corin Robinson - additional engineering, mastering
Joseph Thorpe - vocals, keys, drums, guitar, bass, synths
Kianna Blue - piano, additional synthesizers, percussion, sound effects
Lawrie Pringle - bass on 'No Amount of Medicine'
Andrew Stuart-Buttle - strings on 'Simple'
'The Golden Hour' cover artwork by Ash Babb
Artist photos taken by Tan Le
Keep up with Collect Call
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |