A windfall find for lucky listeners, Portland psychedelic gaze-wave outfit Sun Atoms present ‘Narco Polo’, their new psychedelic dance rock single, featuring Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse on lead vocals. This is the final single from the band’s sophomore album ‘Everything Forever’, to be released on November 8 via Little Cloud Records.
A rising force on America’s West Coast, Sun Atoms is made up of producer and bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), multi-instrumentalist June Kang, saxophonist-trumpeter-guitarist Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), drummer Eric Rubalcava and guitarist Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez (Hi Hazel).
Lending his distinct dark brilliance to this track, Brocks’ delivery bursts in a tidal ebb and flow throughout the big artsy and experimental tune abuzz with a blend of rhythmic strangeness.
Peter Holmström and Isaac have been friends and worked on songs together over the years. Most recently Holmström collaborated on Brock’s cover of ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’, which was used in the ‘Claydream’ documentary, which follows the life of Oscar-winning claymation pioneer Will Vinton. Sun Atoms also recently supported Modest Mouse in Seattle and Portland.
As Sun Atoms was working on their new album, Holmström sent Brock some rough mixes. Months later, Peter got a call from Isaac, who was recording the vocals for ‘Narco Polo’ at his Ice Cream Party studio in Portland, inviting Peter to come check it out. It was then mixed by iconic producer Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, Garbage) and mastered by Keith Tenniswood (Spiritualized, Death In Vegas).
Sun Atoms earlier released two tasters from this album, accompanied by B-sides and released on 7-inch vinyl, as well as digitally. The new wave-inspired ‘Ceiling Tiles’ is accompanied by a charismatic fuzzed-out Leonard Cohen tribute ‘Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)’, while the second single, ‘Take This Love’ presents a sonic odyssey to a realm of musical enchantment, accompanied by a clever sci-fi video, filmed at Oregon’s world-famous Airplane Home, and the trippy B-side ‘And The Lion Saw The UFO’.
Meticulously crafted and imbued with cosmic energy, Sun Atoms’ music captivates the senses, operating beyond the boundaries of sound and space. A genre-defying fusion of psychedelic rock, indie pop and post-punk, Sun Atoms push the boundaries of their own sonic exploration. Their debut album ‘Let There Be Light’ (released in 2021) was produced by Holmström and mixed by iconic producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries) with contributions by The Black Angels’ Alex Maas, The Vandelles’ Jasno Swarez and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper).
Earlier this year, Sun Atoms played a series of sold-out concerts with Dinosaur Jr., crowning the list of shows they’ve played over the years with Fishbone, Modest Mouse, Federale, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt, New Candys and TREMOURS, in addition to many festivals. They’ve also shared the stage with Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case, Built To Spill. Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats.
As of October 8, ‘Narco Polo’ is out everywhere online, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where the ‘Ceiling Tiles’ and ‘Take This Love’ singles can be found (they are also available on 7-inch vinyl). Sun Atoms’ sophomore album ‘Everything Forever’ will be released on November 8.
TRACK LIST
01 Narco Polo feat. Isaac Brock
02 Stand Up Citizen
03 Narco Polo feat. Isaac Brock (radio edit)
CREDITS
Written and played by Peter G. Holmström, Jsun Atoms, June Kang, Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez, Mars de Ponte, Eric Rubalcava
Produced and Engineered by Peter G. Holmström at Air Traffic Control
Recording (additional drums) by Gregg Williams at The Trench Studio
Recording vocals by Tommy Dietrick / Joshua Tree Recording Studio
Initial tracking by Eric Crespo at Red Lantern Studios
Mixed by Jagz Kooner at Stone Circle Studios (Avebury, England)
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curve Pusher (Hastings, England)
Peter G. Holmström – bass, guitar, sequencers, keys, xylophone
June Kang – MPC, synths, percussion
Derek Spencer Longoria Gomez – guitar, vocals
Mars de Ponte – guitar, keys, vocals, horns
Eric Rubalcava – drums, percussion
Jsun Atoms – vocals, guitar
Gregg Williams – hand drums
Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) – additional vocals
Cover artwork by James Coffman. Layout by Sea Gothman
Sun Atoms photo collage credits: Doug Moore, Lisa Hagen Glynn, Brady Tuazon, Erik Meharry, pdxpop
Isaac Brock photo by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
CONCERTS
Nov. 09 PORTLAND – Show Bar at Revolution Hall (with The Veldt, Asteroid #4 & Los Mundos)
Nov. 16 PORTLAND – Belltown Yacht Club (with Valley Suns)
Dec. 11 PORTLAND – McMenamins Mission Theater (with LSD & The Search For God & TREMOURS) – Little Cloud Records Showcase for The Dandy Warhols 30th Anniversary