The track "Polterguys" by Symbol Soup, the curious musical moniker of singer-songwriter Michael Rea based out of Milton Keynes (UK), feels instantly weird but beautifully so, captivatingly so. There are bending fluid sounds that feel somewhere in between flutes and a theremin set against urgent albeit gentle rhythms. When the beat and lovely guitar patterns begin you do feel lighter as Rea's easy croon begins about ghosts and death or maybe life as slow death (I am not sure).
Rea shares that:
"Polterguys is a song about seeing people close to you being unable to look out for themselves, because of mental health, drugs/alcohol - whatever it may be. It's also about our collective tendency to retreat into ourselves, and the need to find commonality in these difficult moments."
As Symbol Soup, Rea blends such a lush soup here, of electronica, dark and light folk and words that make you want to dive deeply into it all. His other instrument, his voice, is beautiful, drawing us in with high falsettos. The whole dreamy affair is both tender and trippy. I find myself wanting more, wishing the song was much longer.
"Polterguys" is the first single from the upcoming LP "Cattle Grid" dropping January 22nd, 2021. Rea ostensibly self produced the album but this is the first release to feature Pete Martin on trumpet and vocals from Christy Thynne.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
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Symbol Soup is the moniker under which Michael Rea makes music which combines DIY rock with country, folk and glitchy electronics. In 2017, having played guitar for various other projects, he was inspired by artists like Phil Elverum, Alex G, and Sparklehorse to start creating music solo and self- producing. Coinciding with a move from London back home to Milton Keynes, the idea was to create something idiosyncratic and personal, beyond the standard guitar-band format.
In late 2018, Symbol Soup became a less secretive pursuit. The initial recordings (1 single, 1 EP, 1 LP) were released to streaming services, and friends Jonny Bennett (The Mighty Orchid King) and Will Stephen (June Logue) were enlisted to form a live band.
2019 Saw the release of the second LP, Participation Trophy, and a string of live shows across London, Brighton, Oxford, following which Symbol Soup were shortlisted (final 20) for the Green Man Rising competition. In October the first 'Soupenanny’ event was hosted. These events, planned (pre- lockdown) to be 4x yearly at DSFL, take food bank donations for entry. They showcase fellow musical DIY-ers like Archie Valentine, Green Hands, as well as involving artists of other mediums like illustration, animation, poetry.
As of 2020, the live lineup now includes Hunter Mockett (Aaberg) and Henry Scanlan (Free Lunch.) Upcoming album Cattle Grid offers a funner, more playful take on the sound of previous releases. The homespun recordings are filled out with singing saw, accordion, field recordings and lap steel. Lyrically, songs lapse between conversational and surreal, exploring intimacy, disillusionment, mental health. It is also the first release to feature collaborators, with Pete Martin contributing trumpet, and vocals from Christy Thynne.
Rea shares that:
"Polterguys is a song about seeing people close to you being unable to look out for themselves, because of mental health, drugs/alcohol - whatever it may be. It's also about our collective tendency to retreat into ourselves, and the need to find commonality in these difficult moments."
As Symbol Soup, Rea blends such a lush soup here, of electronica, dark and light folk and words that make you want to dive deeply into it all. His other instrument, his voice, is beautiful, drawing us in with high falsettos. The whole dreamy affair is both tender and trippy. I find myself wanting more, wishing the song was much longer.
"Polterguys" is the first single from the upcoming LP "Cattle Grid" dropping January 22nd, 2021. Rea ostensibly self produced the album but this is the first release to feature Pete Martin on trumpet and vocals from Christy Thynne.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
bandcamp
Symbol Soup is the moniker under which Michael Rea makes music which combines DIY rock with country, folk and glitchy electronics. In 2017, having played guitar for various other projects, he was inspired by artists like Phil Elverum, Alex G, and Sparklehorse to start creating music solo and self- producing. Coinciding with a move from London back home to Milton Keynes, the idea was to create something idiosyncratic and personal, beyond the standard guitar-band format.
In late 2018, Symbol Soup became a less secretive pursuit. The initial recordings (1 single, 1 EP, 1 LP) were released to streaming services, and friends Jonny Bennett (The Mighty Orchid King) and Will Stephen (June Logue) were enlisted to form a live band.
2019 Saw the release of the second LP, Participation Trophy, and a string of live shows across London, Brighton, Oxford, following which Symbol Soup were shortlisted (final 20) for the Green Man Rising competition. In October the first 'Soupenanny’ event was hosted. These events, planned (pre- lockdown) to be 4x yearly at DSFL, take food bank donations for entry. They showcase fellow musical DIY-ers like Archie Valentine, Green Hands, as well as involving artists of other mediums like illustration, animation, poetry.
As of 2020, the live lineup now includes Hunter Mockett (Aaberg) and Henry Scanlan (Free Lunch.) Upcoming album Cattle Grid offers a funner, more playful take on the sound of previous releases. The homespun recordings are filled out with singing saw, accordion, field recordings and lap steel. Lyrically, songs lapse between conversational and surreal, exploring intimacy, disillusionment, mental health. It is also the first release to feature collaborators, with Pete Martin contributing trumpet, and vocals from Christy Thynne.
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