An all-encompassing aural assault, a force as unstoppable and fiercely alive as the tide. The Post-Rock powerhouse known as And So I Watch You From Afar have returned with their 7th studio album, “Megafauna via Pelagic Records.
A tribute to the two places the collective call home, their beloved Portrush on the Irish North Coast and the beating heart that is Belfast; “Megafauna” is headstrong exploration and heartfelt appreciation with all the intuition, intimacy and humour of four firm friends approaching their 20th year as a band.
Like so many other bands and creatives throughout the pandemic, ASIWYFA found themselves suddenly stationary, with any plans outside of their immediate vicinity put on indefinite hold. However, where this might have seen other acts falter, ASIWYFA took comfort in their communal bond and, as soon as they were able, began writing a record that quickly became a love letter to the communities they call home. “‘Megafauna’ is essentially a distilled moniker for our peers,” says guitarist Rory Friers, “all of the friends and characters that we’ve grown up with who’ve made us and our homes what they are today. Lockdown was an intensely introspective and reflective process, which put the comfort of community at the forefront of our minds.”
The intent behind “Megafauna” is clear from the outset. Two guitars, bass and drums all recorded in a week erupt into effervescent life in an endorphin rush of collaboration and togetherness after the physical and psychological wilderness of isolation. Lead single “Do Mór” is a preposterously playful collision of light-hearted guitar hooks, effortless jazz syncopation and the triumphant return of ASIWYFA’s inimitable wall-of-sound distortion, whilst opening track “North Coast Megafauna” serves as an anthem for the whole album and perhaps for a band reinvigorated too; proudly wearing the joyously jarring confrontation of their sound on their sleeves.
Elsewhere on “Megafauna,” introspection and sombre sentimentality take centre stage with the downtempo “Years Ago” providing remarkable dynamic depth that speaks to a band approaching two decades together whilst the moments of calm on “Button Days” are interspersed with cacophonous blasts reminiscent of the unbridled energy on ASIWYFA’s earliest material.
Stream the whole album through the YouTube player below:
Purchase the album here: https://orcd.co/asiwyfa
Tracklist:
01. North Coast Megafauna
02. Do Mór
03. Gallery of Honour
04. Mother Belfast (Part 1)
05. Mother Belfast (Part 2)
06. Years Ago
07. Any Joy
08. Button Days
09. Me and Dunbar
And So I Watch You From Afar will appear at Pelagic Fest, a two-day festival at the Muziekgieterij venue in Maastricht, Netherlands, on August 24 and 25, 2024 to celebrate the label’s 15th anniversary.
The quartet have also announced live dates for December, which you can see below:
Dec 13: Manchester New Century Hall
Dec 14: Bristol Marble Factory
Dec 15: London Electric Brixton
Dec 16: Birmingham 02 Institute
Dec 17: Glasgow,Saint Lukes
Dec 18: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Lineup:
Rory Friers, Niall Kennedy, Chris Wee, Ewen Friers / Vocals
Rory Friers & Niall Kennedy / Guitars
Ewen Friers / Bass
Chris Wee / Drums
Michael Keeney / Piano
Arco String Quartet / Strings
