Beach Skulls

Beach Skulls emerged with a sonic palette drawing from surf music, garage rock, and the earliest strains of rock & roll, demonstrating skill in reviving those vintage elements through a gritty, unpolished lens reminiscent of an exposed bulb's harsh glow. Evolving from a two-piece to a three-piece outfit upon recruiting a bassist, and refining their craft as composers, the act inked a deal with PNKSLM, issuing a refined first record alongside a self-produced, echo-drenched successor that marked them as an act worth following in the retro sphere.

Forming in 2011, the project initially featured only guitarist and singer Ry Vieira, who soon joined forces with drummer Jordan Finney. Having attended college together and sharing a passion for Dick Dale along with traditional surf sounds, the pair began delving into similar territory. Based in Liverpool, the twosome performed across England and cut several EPs, starting with Beneath the Waves in 2011 followed by The Brooklyn Jive the next year. Their shadowy interpretation of surf and garage styles progressed steadily, as seen in 2013's A Different Kind of Smooth, which shifted toward a mid-fi aesthetic from its lo-fi origins, even as Vieira and Finney crafted catchier, brighter compositions. A major shift occurred with the addition of bassist Dan West, whom they encountered in Berlin. Aligning with the Swedish imprint PNKSLM, they prepared their inaugural long-player. Cut in a mere four days at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, Slow Grind from 2016 evoked the spirits of Buddy Holly and numerous bright surf groups, while tipping the hat to peers such as the Allah-Las and Las Rosas.

Following extensive live work, Beach Skulls turned to their next effort. Avoiding a clinical studio setup, they instead occupied an industrial site and assembled an ad-hoc recording space within one of its units. This casual atmosphere allowed greater opportunity to experiment with textures, focusing on atmosphere and desired vibe. Las Dunas, issued in June 2018, embraced a distinctly mid-fi character that felt more relaxed and rough-edged compared to its predecessor, while the words ventured beyond the debut's emphasis on romance. Around the time of its launch, the members relocated to Catalonia to enjoy some youthful adventures.