Seattle’s Chastity Belt and Austin’s Holy Wave come together on a new 7-inch release for Suicide Squeeze Records, blending their distinct yet complementary sounds into a dreamy, introspective package. Out today [October 29, 2024], the split highlights each band’s knack for turning personal reflection into immersive soundscapes, balancing melancholic lyrics with lush instrumentation.
Chastity Belt leads the release with “That Guy,” a track embodying the band’s signature laid-back precision. The jangly guitars and steady rhythms carry a sense of upbeat tranquility, wrapping wistful riffs around Julia Shapiro’s candid lyrics. “That Guy” reflects on navigating life’s mundane moments—grappling with screen addiction, the instinct to cling too long to fleeting joys, and the struggle of letting go. “Maybe quitting is okay, but I don’t like giving things away,” Shapiro sings, with warm vocal harmonies adding emotional depth. The song’s backstory gives it an extra layer of resonance: recorded in LA during sessions for Live Laugh Love in 2022, it didn’t make the final album but finds a home here, complete with Lydia Lund’s wandering, inspired guitar lines. “We told her, do them all!” Shapiro recalls.
Holy Wave’s contribution, “Time Crisis Too,” unfurls like a hazy dream, steeped in nostalgic sound. This hypnotic slow burner layers warped synths, vibraphone melodies, and carefully measured percussion into a rich tapestry of sound. Micro-experiments—like seaside waves, subtle distortion, and eerie secondary vocals—peek through the textures, adding intrigue without disrupting the track’s gentle pull. Lyrically, it reflects on the relentless speed of time, capturing both longing and inevitability in its dense atmosphere.
Limited to just 1,000 copies, this 7-inch offers a collector’s dream, available in three vinyl variants: 400 yellow, 300 red, and 300 green. Officially out February 7, 2025, on Suicide Squeeze, this release serves as a time capsule—a sonic exploration of fleeting moments, transitions, and the strange comfort of holding on too long. Check out “That Guy” below: