Bella Union
“It’s a song we often open our shows with, so it felt right to have it as the first single off the record,” say Penelope Isles. Bright and brisk, wide-eyed and wistful, ‘Chlorine’ is a dreamy introduction to the instinctive charms and alt-rock chops of the Isle of Man-via-Brighton quartet, forged around siblings Jack and Lily Wolter. After a buoyant guitar-pop opening, ‘Chlorine’ harbours a tale of what the band call “a heart-breaking family divide”. Its potency heightened by the juxtaposition between the band’s fiery lead-guitar sorcery and sailing three-part harmonies, it’s a song of tremendous melodic calm and emotional rip tides, inviting and immersive.
Self-produced by Jack and recorded in Brighton’s Bella Studios, ‘Chlorine’ is a hypnotic teaser for Penelope Isles’ debut LP, due for release this summer. Between its chiming dream-pop, fuzz-noise waves, indie-psych currents and lustrous melodies, the album is a transporting show of expansive DIY vision, its elemental metaphors a fertile backdrop for the band’s innate inner chemistry and acute grasp of contrast.
Crisp and woozy, blissful and biting, it’s also an album powerful enough to sweep you away live. Penelope Isles have already garnered support from The Line of Best Fit and DIY for their excellent live shows. With upcoming performances at both Eurosonic and SXSW, the band will also be playing the below UK live shows over the next few months…
30 Jan – UK, London, Rough Trade East
22 Feb – UK, Hastings, The Blackmarket
09 Mar – USA, NYC, Arlene’s Grocery (1.30pm)
09 Mar – USA, NYC, Berlin (9.15pm)
13 Mar – USA, Austin, SXSW @ Intercontinental (4pm)
14 Mar – USA, Austin, SXSW @ Palm Door (10pm)
15 Mar – USA, Austin, SXSW @ Hilton Austin (3pm)
17 Mar – USA, Denton, Andy’s Bar
30 Mar – UK, Isle of Man, Villa Marina Promenade Suite
02 Apr – UK, Portsmouth, House of Rapture
03 Apr – UK, Cambridge, Portland Arms
04 Apr – UK, Bristol, Rough Trade Bristol
05 Apr – UK, Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
06 Apr – UK, Leicester, Cookie
07 Apr – UK, Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
09 Apr – UK, Glasgow, Hug & Pint
10 Apr – UK, Newcastle, Cluny 2
12 Apr – IRE, Dublin, Whelan’s (Upstairs)
16 Apr – UK, Oxford, Jericho Tavern
17 Apr – UK, London, Moth Club
27 Apr – UK – Reading, Are You Listening? Festival
09 May – UK, Brighton, The Great Escape
23 May – DE, Dortmund, FZW
25 May – NL, Amsterdam, London Calling
13 Jul – SK, Trencin, Pohoda Festival
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