Song of the Day: The Luxembourg Signal – Blue Field

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Blue Field” by The Luxembourg Signal from the album Blue Field on Shelflife.

The Luxembourg Signal – Blue Field (MP3)

The transatlantic band The Luxembourg Signal makes the kind of timeless indie-pop that inherently provokes feelings of nostalgia. It helps that half its members go back as far as the early '90s when they honed their warm, California-informed version of UK indie as the winsome outfit Aberdeen. Since then singer Beth Arzy, guitarist Johnny Joyner, and drummer Brian Espinosa re-shifted as The Luxembourg Signal and have expanded into a septet for their sophomore album Blue Field, released last October on Shelflife.

Additional (wo)manpower -- including new co-vocalist Betsy Moyer, whose angelic croons melts finely into Arzy's -- has only made their sound lusher, as realized on the album's title track. This sumptuous slice of dream-pop is jangly and upbeat, but not without a potent dose of melancholy swirling through the squall of shimmering shoegaze guitars. Throughout, the rhythm holds strong and steady, always with a sense of urgency. But it's those soft, airy vocals gliding through -- faintly yet hauntingly -- that seem to slow down (and rewind) time itself.

The Luxembourg Signal currently has no 2018 tour dates set, but be sure to check out their website or Facebook for more news and updates.