Tag: Night Heron

Review: Whimz – PM226

Combining the talents of Sunny Faris from Blackwater Holylight and Carn Spies from Night Heron, Whimz‘s debut EP, PM226, is an intriguing stroll through a darkwave garden.

The titles of the EP’s tracks are as intriguing as their sound. “AM1” starts off the EP and your day with sort of a dread-lined gearing up for battle. You know you’ll come out victorious in the end, but you also know the battle might be a slog. Faris’ vocals sound like they’re coming from an old jukebox in the back of a dark bar patronized by ghosts. “AM2” is, somehow, even spookier. It might be due to Spies’ funeral dirge synths and the strange hand percussion instruments that might be made of human bones for all I know.

“I Wanna” sits in the middle of the EP, making you wonder, “You wanna what?” The answer, judging from the Stranger Things-theme-like synth bass and Romanian-like guitar chords, might be “I wanna dance on a rain-drenched street under a full moon and forget about my troubles for a while.” It’s the lone instrumental, setting the table for “PM1” and Faris’ vocals taking us into a crumbling mansion’s drawing room designed with dark hardwoods and lined with old books. It slides into “PM2” as easy as slipping into a dream after a warm bath. The guitars buzz around you and Faris’ vocals slide in and out of the shadows cast by your bedside lamp.

It’s dark, it’s spooky, it’s perfect for Halloween.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

Blackwater Holylight’s Sunny Faris and Night Heron’s Cam Spies combine their super powers to create WHIMZ.

Portland, OR synth-doom duo WHIMZ share the first single from their forthcoming album PM226 today via Metal Injection. Hear and share “AM2” HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

Sunny Faris (vocalist/bassist and founder of Blackwater Holylight) and Cam Spies (Night Heron) have been friends for years. Cam recorded the first BWHL record several years ago and they hadn’t had a chance to collaborate again, until 2021 when they decided to spend a day in the studio to see what emerged. The result was a seamless blending of their two projects: dark, synth heavy, austere doom-pop, with hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies, and sexy bass lines. 

Sunny’s characteristic voice is immediately recognizable from opening track “AM1”. Although it may at first seem confusing to hear her singing over low-end rich, heavy synthesizer and vintage drum machines, it quickly becomes apparent how perfectly suited her voice is for these songs. While the music evokes the icy, consumer excess bliss of mid- to late-80s synth pop, Sunny’s melancholic voice permeates like the angelic harmonies of Julie Cruise and Cocteau Twins. 

The emotionally intense, melodically lush shoegazey doom of Blackwater Holylight’s widely hailed 2021 album Silence/Motion provides a good touchstone for WHIMZ, but Night Heron’s pawn shop deep collection of carefully curated retro synth instrumentation and Cam’s tasteful production also gives the album both its skeleton and a wealth of subtle and clever tones tucked neatly into each song. 

Upon completing the 5-song, 26-minute album they decided to release it on Portland label Literal Gold Records, and assembled a live band which includes members of YOB and Spoon Benders joining Faris and Spies. 

PM226 will be available on LP, CD and download on October 28th, 2022 via Literal Gold Records. Pre-orders are available HERE. 

WHIMZ LIVE 2022:

Nov 10 – Portland – Doug Fir Lounge

Nov 12 – Seattle – Freakout Fest – Sunset Tavern 

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]