Hello, everyone!
When Sean Cimino and Isom Innis were recruited into Foster The People in 2010, there was an instant spark. Since the boys were naturally drawn to each other, they created what is now experimental post-punk outfit Peel. Keep reading to unpack this even further... and we're off to the races!
Cimino and Innis released their EP Peel October 16, 2020 featuring classic tracks: “Rom-Com”, “Catch & Release”, and “Citizen X”. My personal favorite is “Catch & Release” for its heavy Gothic influence and stunning instrumentation.
“For me, when I listen to percussive music, the groove becomes hypnotic and it's an ego killer in the best way. It takes me out of my head and into a moment…” says Cimino.
Now in the new year, “Acid Star”, the band's debut, is set for release on March 29, 2024 via Innovative Leisure. “Y2J” and the album's title track are the leading singles which couldn't have been a better choice. One listen and I'm obsessed with “Y2J” since it reminds me of Foster The People's 2017 album “Sacred Hearts Club”. “Acid Star” is straight out of Peel's 2020 self-titled EP. However, I'm looking forward to hearing “Mall Goth” the most. These two influences combined makes for a killer record only Innis and Cimino can concoct.
According to Bandcamp, it's about “no thoughts, just vibes” when it comes to Peel recreating late-90's mainstream hits into their own thing.
“If you think too hard, and you try too hard, you can kind of ruin the expression that comes out," says Innis. “But there's something about trying to recreate a song that was in my DNA before taste came into it that just sounded, listening back, like it had a lot of energy and life.”
Peel instantly made it to the top of my favorites with a nostalgic 80s/90s aesthetic. I was so triggered by this that I actually went back to listen to some of the Darkwave artists I used to write about back in the day. In my opinion, the best thing about this group is their authenticity. When was the last time you saw this kind of merit in the industry? Too many artists are cashing in on mainstream crap and it's dreadfully boring. Luckily, that's not the case here.
Stay tuned to see what Peel does next. Follow them on social media: Twitter (@peelglobal), Bandcamp, and YouTube.