“Lost Film takes a nuanced approach to pop that’s both hazily introspective and gripping.” - NOISEY
Keep It Together was recorded in a log cabin in the midst of a blizzard in rural New Hampshire but you wouldn’t know it by listening to it. The melody driven guitar-pop of Lost Film typically strives for short and sweet, often uptempo indie pop. And though brief moments of slowcore or the occasional emo-indebted guitar may arise, the songwriting at its core is based in straight forward verse, chorus, verse, radio pop. Citing the guitar-pop and crossover appeal of Fountains of Wayne and the introspective layers of the American Analog Set as influences, Lost Film too finds ways to weave in and out of lanes at varying speeds but always with the destination of a hook.
On their latest, main songwriter Jim Hewitt ventured to record outside of his home for the first time since debuting in 2015 but made sure to bring along comforts of home like vintage lamps and wool rugs in addition to a heap of instruments and recording gear. “I’ve been really into textures lately” says Hewitt “whether it’s textile materials (ie: the Amish quilt cover art) or adding layers of barely audible synthesizers under a track, it makes a huge difference to an overall mood.”
Hewitt adds: “It’s definitely the most honest record I’ve ever made. Whether it’s getting older and not having as many walls up, or caring less, or a combination of both - the album looks back at the decisions I’ve made with my life and who I am now. Not to say that I have many regrets because I’m extremely fortunate and proud of where I’m at. But at the same time the Libra in me tends to play it safe and it’s only natural to check in on the what-if’s. If you told me a decade ago that I’d still be working a corporate day job instead of being a touring musician, I’d be a little surprised but not that surprised. For this time out, I made a lot of conscious decisions to not play it safe.”
For the session, Hewitt tapped engineer Matt Freake and longtime drummer and live collaborator Ben Husk to help bring the songs to life - the bulk of which had been sitting for up to 5 years. The jump in fidelity on Keep It Together becomes apparent immediately compared to the basement recordings of previous releases. On cuts like “Exist”, warm, lush, drums paired with bright, multi tracked guitars and layers of vocal harmonies lift the project to new levels of polished recording without becoming sterilized by a traditional studio. An arpeggiated synth line on “Searching” eventually collides with an off kilter drum beat that wouldn’t be out of place for early Modest Mouse - while lead single “Little Things Forever” looks at seeking refuge in the otherwise mundane moments of daily life. At a 25 minute runtime, each of the nine tracks seem to share the same collective goal - to serve as a respite from any displeasures both within our control and beyond it.
“a gem like “Big Talk” just as readily calls back to more recent indie-pop history, namely the lo-fi guitar-pop stuff that was making waves on the blogs about a decade ago. I’m picking up everything from Beach Fossils to LVL UP on this one” - Stereogum
Ciarra Fragale’s newest self-titled LP is her best, most cohesive work to date. Ranging from Motown inspired heartbreak pop to modern and cerebral indie rock, Ciarra creates a distinct sonic world that allows her to display what makes her artistry so special. Pounding keys, angular guitars, and steady driving beats grace these buoyant and emotive tracks, with Ciarra’s one of a kind vocals gliding in and out of smooth and sweet harmonies showcasing her masterful musicianship and songwriting prowess. She currently resides in Western MA, and can most likely be found at the top of mountains or at your local thrift store.
“It’s a more confident work than her previous releases, showing off an impressively elastic range to her songwriting and soul-baring honesty to her performances." - Under The Radar