We’ve truly lived through what felt like an endless summer this year, and not in a good way, either. Heat waves, drought, and general discomfort as temperatures continue to rise across the globe. Luckily, this isn’t the kind of summer Swedish instrumental rock band Valley are hinting at with their new single, “Endless Summer”. Theirs is a nostalgic summer, all woozy with the haze of summer nights and blue skies.
Returning after eleven years, the quartet consisting of Joakim Stefanides (guitars), Erik Sirelius (bass), Daniel Pettersson (drums), and Erik Svallingson (synthesiser/percussion) sound as unhurried as their approach to releasing music. In 2015, they unveiled their début album Sunburst, whose gauzey post-rock sound garnered them some admiration. The first taste of their latest iteration comes with tinges of folk music and jazz, morphing their sound towards an even warmer, more enveloping sense 0f self-expression. More Talk Talk than Mogwai, so to speak.
Anyway, the six-and-a-half minutes of “Endless Summer” come as a first glimpse at Sky Burial, Valley‘s upcoming four-track EP, due out on November 6. Repetitive melodic patterns are set against a lively but steadfast rhythm; there’s a hint of Pink Floyd guitar heroism towards the song’s home stretch as well. Comfortable, self-assured, and content to let things unfold at a natural pace – Valley sound decidedly composed and confident throughout “Endless Summer”, which only serves to enhance the endearing mood set by their music.
‘We’re happy to finally be releasing some new music. It’s been eleven years since Sunburst, and Sky Burial has been on our minds and in our hearts for a very long time. The songs on it have changed throughout the years, and it’s fair to say that so have we. Releasing these four songs is a way for us to document what we’ve done, where we are, and to move on to other things, other songs.‘
From reading these words, it’s clear that Valley take pride in the songs they’ve crafted; if “Endless Summer” is anything to go by, that pride is certainly warranted. I genuinely enjoy the vibes of this track, which are perfect for watching the sky shift through all sorts of magnificent colors as the summer sun continues to set behind a calm horizon. Enchanting stuff, this!
As I mentioned earlier, Sky Burial will be released on November 6; only digital formats as announced thus far. You can follow Valley on Mastodon and YouTube, or head on over to their website. Their previous record Sunburst can be purchased via Bandcamp.
