Released: August 26
Surfaces switch up their sound on their fifth studio album ‘Hidden Youth’.
The duo’s latest offering follows their 2021 release ‘Pacifico’ and is the product of an isolated recording process, which saw Colin Padalecki and Forrest Frank set up base in Joshua Tree to experiment with new sonic landscapes.
Inspired heavily by the likes of Tame Impala and Tom Misch, the album is a departure that sees the pair venture outside of their norm for their most varied release yet.
Opener Into The Desert is a one-minute instrumental, with acoustic guitar and layered harmonies leading into Golden Hour, with dreamy vocals that capture the moment perfectly.
Across the 14-track set, the pair touch on various influences, from the groovy I Can’t Help But Feel to the reggae-pop sound of Rolling Stone. Meanwhile, tracks like It Only Takes Two incorporate trip sensibilities.
Closer Cherry Blossom brings the set to a dreamy end, with relaxed vocals and a mid-tempo beat that encapsulates the essence of hot summer nights in the glow of the sunset.
Experimental in nature, at points ‘Hidden Youth’ lacks direction and, just when things get interesting, the boys pivot in pursuit of a different sound altogether.
But what the project does provide is a blueprint for the next chapter in Surfaces’ career that sees them find a winning sound that, if nurtured, could deliver their most compelling music yet.
‘Hidden Youth’ is available now.
