Ethereal atmosphere and haunting vocals, ‘Golden Age’ warns of getting lost in nostalgia
Alternative post-punk outfit The Bellwether Syndicate have released ‘Golden Age’, the final single from their ‘Vestige & Vigil’ album, out on April 28 via Sett Records in North America and elsewhere via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe.
With its ethereal atmosphere and haunted vocals, ‘Golden Age’ warns of getting lost in nostalgia at the cost of the time that remains, yielding an unforgettable shimmering chorus that stays with you. Directed by William Faith, the accompanying video was created by Sarah Rose Faith, Kristen Chiacchia, Hani von Gehenna and William Faith with still images by Bobby Talamine, Kristen Chiacchia and James Currie.
Based in Chicago, The Bellwether Syndicate is William Faith (vox, guitars), Sarah Rose Faith (vox, guitars), Philly Peroxide (keyboards, percussion), Stevyn Grey (drums) and Corey Gorey (guitars). Formerly of seminal goth acts Christian Death, Mephisto Walz and Shadow Project and co-founder of Faith & The Muse, William Faith moved from his native LA to Chicago in 2010, forming The Bellwether Syndicate with Sarah Rose Faith a.k.a. Scary Lady Sarah, one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters and host of Nocturna, the longest-running goth event in North America.
Six years in the making, the ‘Vestige & Vigil’ LP was produced by William Faith, whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, and Chad Blinman (Face To Face, Faith and The Muse, Jarboe). Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago, it was mixed by Blinman at The Eye Socket. This album comes 9 years after debuting with ‘The Night Watch’ EP and four years since their latest single, ‘Republik’.
“Golden Age’ is a rare gift in that I received nearly the entire song in a dream… The beat, the guitar and bass melody, and the chorus lyric were all just there in my head when I woke up and, without saying a word to Sarah, I ran down to the studio to capture it before I lost it,” explains William Faith.
“It has a haunting quality which felt very nostalgic to me, so the lyric is really about the danger of getting lost in nostalgia and losing the present as a result. This is a conversation we have a lot, as so many people seem to stop looking ahead, content to rummage through the past. I’ve always said that tomorrow is way more interesting to me than yesterday, so this song warns about getting stuck there. As for the chorus, it’s anyone’s guess what it means, as it’s all a dream!”
This single follows singles ‘We All Rise’ (a tale of hope and struggle, of inner courage and rage for what could be), ‘Beacons’ (its ‘set adrift’ narrative supported by liquid, chorused guitars and distress-signal bass and synth) and the glam-noir lead track ‘Dystopian Mirror’.
As of March 31, ‘Golden Age’ is will be available from all fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where the other singles can also be found. The full ‘Vestige & Vigil’ album will be released on April 28.
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