Bio – The Stargazer Lilies
N/E PA based The Stargazer Lilies are the brainchild of husband and wife team, John Cep and Kim Field, pioneers of shoegaze’s new wave with former band Soundpool. The Stargazer Lilies is the evolution of their sound to include many other influences such as early 60’s Girl Group/Spector Wall of Sound, 60’s Psych, 70’s Glam, Brazilian Bossa Nova, 60’s French Pop, Dream Pop, Electronica, Contemporary Ambient etc. All these elements are filtered through Cep’s heavy panoramic, wide screen cinematic approach to his guitar. Kim brings a dreamy breathy, whisper of a voice, giving the overall sound a sense of mystery and mystic. Kim’s bass really anchors the sound in a most melodic way as she utilizes drones, bass chords and bass harmonies, all of which really give the music sonic and melodic depth.
Spin Magazine writes: "reverb-washed slo-mo assault of Slowdive with the sparkling ambiance of Air channeled into a lush, guitar-swollen whole. Psych-fuzz epic.”
Premier Guitar says: "You may have noticed that shoegaze music is experiencing a renaissance. On one hand, nearly all of the genre’s defining legends are back in the saddle, either actively touring or creating fresh music, and on the other, a new generation has simultaneously lifted the torch and begun weaving its own tapestry of lush, psychedelic sounds. The Stargazer Lilies are among these newcomers putting their stamp on the style. And with their second full-length, Door to the Sun, the band has crafted an aural journey through a world of expansive atmospherics, gossamer vocals, and beautifully dynamic textures." "Rife with mercurial dynamic shifts and seemingly endless layering, Door to the Sun draws on an unexpected range of influences, from French pop music of the ’60s to Brazilian bossa nova. The result is pure, blissed-out psych magic.”
Pop Matters says of We Are The Dreamer: “The Stargazer Lilies possess a truly widescreen, cinematic sound with crescendos that build cascading waves of sound enveloping your whole body. The music is a bit darker than standard dream pop fare, but that only makes it that much more mesmerizing.”
Brad Laner of Medicine describes them like this: “This is what your so- called shoegaze is supposed to sound like. Incredible melodies and singing plus great guitar work.”
From Tiny Mix Tapes, "Ceparano’s guitar has never sounded better, while the thump of the bass drum and the thwacks of the toms are low in the mix, blunted just enough so you can hear the crisp cymbal washes. When they drop every instrument out and do a vocal break, it’s absolutely heavenly."
The Primal Music Blog: "Their second release, ‘Door to the Sun‘, out now on Graveface Records, features John Cep’s guitars drenched in reverb, distortion and tremolo alongside quite possibly the best drum sounds since The Beatles’ – ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ or Led Zeps – ‘When The Levee Breaks’.”
Pop Matters on Door To The Sun: Field’s vocals are fittingly airy, Ceparano keeps an arsenal of effects pedals at his feet, and they did name their 2013 debut We Are The Dreamers, but there's a heavy psychedelic thread running through their sound that revitalizes and keeps their traditional leanings in check. Door to the Sun is an even deeper dive into the acid bath than their first album.
Influences:
Nature, Nature Sounds, Mid Century Modernism, Flowers, Stars, SpaceSimilar artists:
Soundpool
