Photo: Melissa Oquendo
Chicago’s post-punk duo Bellhead has just released their gloriously dark and distinct new EP, ‘Good Intentions.’
Emerging from the shadows with the snarling, enigmatic lead single “Valentine,” Karen and Ivan entwine their sonic tendrils to conjure a mesmeric, albeit melancholic, love song that echoes the spectral synthscapes of Depeche Mode, and a bass groove that reverberates with the essence of Placebo’s signature stylings. The vocal interplay between the duo oscillates from a visceral, ASMR-laced whisper to a sing-song cadence, weaving a tale that flits between the realms of loss and hope – or perhaps more poignantly, the liminal space between death and forgiveness.
Akin to the sardonic lyricism of The Magnetic Fields, the song is imbued with the playful ennui of mid-2000s indie, evoking the likes of Peter, Bjorn and John. In this sonic tapestry, Bellhead not only weaves the threads of the past but also shapes the fabric of the present, entwining the listener in a hypnotic embrace.
Listen below and order the EP here
Including the aforementioned “Valentine,” The Good Intentions EP’s six tracks delve into a fresh pop sensibility, with nods to New Order and The Jesus and Mary Chain. “Bad Taste” and “Into the Deep” confront themes of unsavory stalkers, dubious narrators, and ravenous sea sirens – the kind of fuzz-laden bass soundtrack that accompanies a leather-jacketed brawl in a motorcycle bar. The EP’s latter half caters precisely to that desire, even featuring their rendition of Love and Rockets’ hit “No Big Deal.”
‘Good Intentions‘ arrives hot on the heels of Bellhead’s unexpected standalone single—a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” which quickly gained traction by infusing the pop love song with Bellhead’s distinctively dark twist, and since has become a staple for DJs. For their third offering, Bellhead reunited with their reliable production crew, comprising audio engineer Neil Strauch (Iron and Wine, Counting Crows), mastering engineer Carl Saff (Smoking Popes, Guided by Voices), and management team David Schock (WTII Records).
As the year 2022 unfurled itself, Bellhead found themselves enmeshed in a ceaseless whirlwind of touring, with the likes of both international and national acts such as Powerman 5000, Holy Wars, Then Comes Silence, The Bellwether Syndicate, Hate Dept, China Crisis, and Night Club. This spring, they performed alongside the mythical gothic luminaries Clan of Xymox and The Bellwether Syndicate. Thus warmed up and primed, Bellhead is embarking on a nine-date odyssey through May, sharing the limelight with New York City’s coldwave connoisseurs, The Clay People. As the month of May draws to a dramatic denouement, Bellhead will find themselves providing direct support for Los Angeles-based dark electronic duo, Night Club, in a climactic Chicago performance.
Full tour dates below:
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