Founded by Matthew William and Kedra Caroline, The Morelings hit the Philly scene as a three piece in August of 2014 and later recorded their debut studio project with Philadelphia producer Kyle “Slick” Johnson in the fall of that year. Issued in January of 2015, the three-song EP, No Sign, consists of “dark dream-pop guitars, ethereal vocals, and dilated atmospheres” (Going Solo). The following summer, they toured the East Coast and Midwest as a duo and, meanwhile, were invited to contribute a cover of “Lonesome Tonight” to a New Order tribute album called Dreams Never End, about which Philebrity has said, “you’ll never settle for the original version again.” With positive reception, The Morelings released three captivating music videos for each song of their EP, establishing a firm visual aesthetic. In June of 2015, the Morelings began working on their first full-length album, Same Century, with Philadelphia producer Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs, Nothing, Kurt Vile). They have since expanded their act to a five-piece, delivering live performances reflective of the rich, layered studio sound for which they have become known. Released on September 26th via Mostly Venus Records (digital) and Custom Made Music (tapes and vinyl), The Morelings’ debut LP, Same Century, invokes vague recollections of a dream that has you asking, did it happen or not? The answer, of course, is it has and it hasn’t. A parallel universe emerges, two channels on your inner-radio played at once. Think Bossa Nova pop B-sides deemed too dark, a familiar 70s R&B single on full volume from the bottom of an elevator shaft, Blade Runner synths over hip hop beats, bass lines bordering on roller skating rink funk, Yé-yé vocals crossing the Channel toward the blue-eyed soul of Dusty Springfield, spaghetti western twang baptized in doubling swirls and subterranean echoes you might hear hiking through Mammoth Cave National Park. When it’s all said and done, the only thing you remember is you need to turn it up.
