''Waves'' is the eighth studio release by American duo

Azure Ray Azure Ray is an American dream pop duo, consisting of musicians Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2001, they later moved to Omaha, Nebraska and became part of the Saddle Creek Records music scene, which also included ...

, consisting of

Maria Taylor Maria Taylor may refer to: * Maria Taylor (sportscaster) (born 1987), American sportscaster * Maria Taylor (musician) (born 1976), American musician * Maria Jane Taylor (1837–1870), British missionary to China * Maria Madeline Taylor Maria Made ...

and

Orenda Fink Orenda Fink is an American singer, musician, and writer. Perhaps best known as half of the duo Azure Ray, Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by Bright Ey ...

. It was released on October 26, 2018, on Flower Moon Records.

Background

After a five-year hiatus following the release of As Above So Below, the band announced in October 2017 that their

self-titled An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Usage of the word The term ''epon ...

debut and Burn and Shiver were now on Taylor's label. A few weeks later, a cryptic message teasing an "important announcement" was posted to the band's social media accounts and on November 17, 2017, Taylor and Fink announced they would once again reunite for a one-off show in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

at the Lodge Room on January 20, 2018. In August 2018, a second reunion show, this time in their hometown of Omaha, was announced for October 26, 2018. On September 26, 2018

Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...

announced their new EP and first new record in 6 years, ''Waves'' and premiered a new single, "Palindrome," calling it a "mournful string-driven ballad which offers the best of the band's spectral harmonies, woodsy storytelling and aching wisdom."

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

premiered the Alan Tanner directed video for "Palindrome" on October 19, 2018.

also premiered a new recording of "Hold on Love" from their 2003 record of the same name, which the band said "reflects the live version that we came to love playing through the years."

KCRW KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to programm ...

premiered the video for the "hauntingly beautiful" "Last Summer In Omaha" on October 25, 2018.

Track listing

All songs written by Azure Ray, except where otherwise listed. # "Palindrome" # "Last Summer In Omaha" # "

Nightswimming "Nightswimming" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released in 1993 as the fifth single from the group's eighth album, ''Automatic for the People'' (1992). "Nightswimming" is a ballad featuring singer Michael Stipe accompa ...

" (

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...

cover) # "Hold On Love (2018 Version)" # "Palindrome (Reprise)"

Personnel

* Additional appearances by

Louis Schefano Louis Schefano (born January 26, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Birmingham, Alabama, United States. He has recorded under various monikers including Regia, Louis, and Suspicio ...

Andy LeMaster Andy LeMaster is an American musician, songwriter, engineer, and producer from Athens, Georgia. Now It's Overhead is the primary project for his own songwriting, while he also releases music under his own name and contributes as a co-writer on ...

, Tiffany Osborn *

and

– co-production *

– engineer *

- mixing * Doug Van Sloun - mastering * Jess Ewald – cover photograph * Ryan Dwyer – creative direction

References

{{reflist Azure Ray albums 2018 EPs Dream pop EPs