In search of that heavenly noise
This is all we’ve given ourselves to
Did we ever have a choice?
Or are we just passing through?
Death Bells (Will Canning and Remy Veselis), the Aussie transplants now rooted in Los Angeles, unveil their latest creation, Landslide, an ethereal collaboration with new band member and fellow Australian expat, Sans Merit (aka Griffin James). The new single, the band’s first since the release of 2023’s Take My Spirit Now EP, is a shimmering, guitar-driven dream pop reverie steeped in shades of Cocteau Twins’ lush euphoria, with aural influences taking cues from the Jesus and Mary Chain’s controlled chaos, Tom Verlaine’s expansive vision, and the delicate jangle of Felt.
Like a gentle cascade, Landslide drifts beautifully into contemplation, lyrically navigating the precarious tightrope of human frailty; obsession mingling gently with resignation, vulnerability giving way softly to existential unease. The vocals soar, carrying an undertone of anxiety like dust scattered in the wind, gently illuminated by reverb-drenched guitars and layers of airy synths. offering a balm amid life’s inherent turmoil. Death Bells deftly convey the ache of the fragile nature of connection, wrapped elegantly in a melody that feels both tender and grand.
“To put it concisely, the song is about finding solace in failure,” says frontman Will Canning.
Complementing Landslide is an evocative visual journey filmed at California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument. Directed deftly by Jeremy Stith, the piece is steeped in the adventurous spirit and stark aesthetics reminiscent of music videos’ formative days. Landslide echoes Icehouse’s classic video for Great Southern Land, capturing vast, rugged vistas juxtaposed dramatically against intimate close-ups. Anton Corbijn’s visual influence is also unmistakably present here.
“Funnily enough, we only had a two-day window when the entire band would be in Los Angeles to shoot, so I figured let’s just get out of town and camp out somewhere mental, the rest will come,” says Canning. “Thank god we had Jeremy Stith at the helm directing because it would have been a mess if left to me. By the end of the shoot, we were cooked by the sun, tired, dehydrated, and ready to leave.”
Watch the video for “Landslide” below:
With Landslide, Death Bells deliver a beautifully realized meditation on solace found in failure, a stirring ode that dances gracefully on the edge of existential revelation.
Listen to Landslide below and order the single here.
Death Bells will perform on July 25th at The Echo in Los Angeles, joined by Starling and Heavens Club. The show is promoted by Pretty But Wicked. Grab your tickets here.
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