Sharp and sensible, new musical duo Soft Swells nails the canny pop sensibility of today’s indie landscape on their forthcoming self-titled ‘Soft Swells’ LP making full use of an arsenal of sounds, including stuttering and snapping drums, handclaps, a ringing xylophone, and subtle electronics. Soft Swells is the collaborative effort of longtime indie songwriter and gifted storyteller Tim Williams and the talents of Brooklyn’s Phonograph mainstay Matt Welsh.

 

Soft Swells was named for and inspired by Williams' beachy surroundings in California where he relocated after leaving NYC in 2009.  Williams, who had released two very well-received albums under his name for Dovecote Records, met Welsh as he was gearing up to work on his third album. Welsh, who gained much acclaim with his own Brooklyn outift Phonograph, asked Williams if he needed a guitarist, and both gents knew it was a sure fit.  Recently, Welsh also made the move from the East Coast to West Coast to join his new bandmate.  “His band had done quite a bit of touring with Wilco so I knew Matt would be up for the challenge,” says Williams.

 

Now ready to release their ‘Soft Swells’ debut LP to the world, Williams is excited to showcase new songs that he and Welsh recorded under tight constraints.  "I would say ‘control’ is the main theme for this record. Really, what you can and can't - and how that affects your life.”  Soft Swells’ self-titled debut was recorded in the tiny town of Lewes, England, by longtime friend and producer Dave Lynch (Ed Harcourt, Clearlake, Liam Finn) at Bat Box Studios. “Matt and I spent a little over a week recording 13 songs as quick as we could before our return flights home. I think we nearly drove Dave mad during this process as we could have really used a solid month for a record this size. Dave had also just had his first baby boy - Monty Moog  - and probably only had 5 hours of sleep the entire week. He is a true saint,” says Williams.

 

The band released a hot 7” late summer 2011 which featured new tracks "Every Little Thing" and “Lifeboats” which gained airplay at KCRW and KROQ and started a Soft Swells buzz on the West Coast.  Both songs were remastered for inclusion on the crushingly perfect upcoming ‘Soft Swells’ full length which Austin-based Modern Outsider Records will release at the end of February.  Stay tuned for new tour dates and new beginnings from Soft Swells in 2012. 

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Press Quotes
TIME Magazine includes Soft Swells in list of “Five Buzz-Worthy Bands to Check Out” - TIME Magazine

“Upbeat and very full-sounding tunes. While one minute the guys sound like a catchy pop outfit, the next you’ll hear them
incorporating electronic sounds. Album Of The Week. - USA Today

“Soft Swells channel the Technicolor guitar-pop of Summerteeth-era Wilco, balancing high-flying synthesizer parts against
guitars straight from the garage.” MTV Buzzworthy Artist - MTV.com

“West coast meets east coast to create a fuzzy dreamscape” - PopMatters

“After their album launched this February, Soft Swells has maintained their space on my post review deck – similar to
what happened with M83 and Foster The People the year prior. URB Band To Watch. - URB

“Highly recommended.” BuzzbandsLA Bands To Watch 2012 - BuzzbandsLA

“A tight breed of rock-pop that is easy on the ears. Be forward thinking and start making your summer playlist now – and
put Soft Swells at the very top.” 4.5/5 - Consequence Of Sound

“An endearing blend of fuzz and pop.” - SXSW.com

“You have to admit, there’s something to be said for a well-written piece of modern pop music, and that’s precisely what
you have here.” - Austin Town Hall

“The blend of surfpop, rock a la Arcade Fire light and the presence of electronic vibes is a delightful mix.” - Listomania
Best of 2012

“Contemporary indie pop in the vein of bands like Phoenix and Neon Indian.” - SFStation

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