![]() Much in line with the archetype of the shoegazers of yore, the Stargazer Lilies are a very different beast live than one might expect from their recordings, guiding and coaxing the more delicate and dulcet aspects of their songs into walls of sound that envelop the audience. Utilizing some beloved and well-traveled vintage guitars, a dual-pedalboard rig, and a pair of Marshall half-stacks, Cep is a tone chaser who is always seeking to expand his sound and create an immersive experience, on album and stage. The result is pure, blissed-out psych magic. 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. And Cep’s droning bass lines, played in concert by Field, underpin the somnambulistic vibe. Although much of the five-year-old band’s sound relies upon Cep’s penchant for stereo guitars pushed through spatial effects, Field’s delicate vocals punch through the swirling din with an angelic quality that lends heaps of gorgeous melody and humanity to the threesome’s musical dream-state. The Stargazer Lilies identify themselves as a “flower-power trio” and have managed to create immense soundscapes on their own terms, with Cep producing and recording Door to the Sun entirely within his and Field’s Pennsylvania home. Helmed by the duo of John Cep and Kim Field, and joined live by drummer Tammy Hirata, the band formed out of the ashes of Cep and Field’s former group, the electro-pop outfit Soundpool, driven by a desire to return to more organic sounds. ![]() 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. The Stargazer Lilies are among these newcomers putting their stamp on the style. 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. You may have noticed that shoegaze music is experiencing a renaissance. It’s a cascading waterfall of sound, brightened by bassist Kim Field’s sweet vocal melody. Get an earful of “When with You” from the Stargazer Lilies’ new album, Door to the Sun.
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