There’s a lot to celebrate in ‘Cemetery Days’. A rather obscure and nuanced offering, the track is quite enigmatic in its stylings, in the sense that it doesn’t quite sound like anything else. That’s good news – a sign that Kwolek is pursuing his own artistic journey, ignoring viral trends and proven formulas. If one had to trace references, perhaps shoegaze, indie and new wave are all genres that come to mind, all exhibiting a certain retro flair. B-side ‘Trampoline’ is instead more eclectic.
Truthfully, in Kwolek’s songwriting, one can find a great deal of pop prowess too – the delivery is often catchy and memorable. Sonically, spacious and distorted guitars create a confusing yet evocative sonic goo, with light drums driving a moderate groove into oblivion. The guitar solo in ‘Cemetery Days’ catches our attention: psychedelic, unconventional, noisy and screamy – what more could you want? It’s sonic euphoria in its purest form.
Self-produced by Kwolek himself, the record is a personal affair. As he explains: “I’ve been writing in third-person, stories of lost people discovering themselves, exploring proclivities, dancing wildly… ‘Cemetery Days’ features two misfit teens awash in the glorious pretense of youth making art and hanging out in graveyards.”
Discover ‘Cemetery Days’ on Spotify: