New Music Alert: Spyderland Delivers an Edgy and Elegant Album

“Loss of love makes perfect sense in these times. We must look closely at each other. Our value will dissipate if we stop. More alienated from themselves than ever before, yet the same thing rings in their ears.” That’s indie-electric duo Spyderland announcing their first full-length album, There’s Monsters Outside. It’s an ominous message and album title. Indeed, There’s Monsters Outside is stark and dark. It’s also hypnotic, hopeful, and rousing, particularly in its harmonies.

Spyderland, formed in Denver in 2018, is Drew McClellan on keys, vocals, and beat production and Marie Litton on vocals and guitar. They each have experience in prior bands and with earlier singles as Spyderland. There’s Monsters Outside kicks off with “Bop It;” a trippy electro-dance which proclaims the band’s merging of light and dark sounds and themes. “Monster” (“Run and hide, there’s monsters outside”) is a mellow melody building with uplifting keys. “Mother’s Echo Chamber” is instrumentally dark and minimal with Litton’s ethereal vocals and moving harmonies with McClellan: “It’s my great disguise, wish my love wasn’t so blind, ’cause I’ve kinda been wasting time.” “Reptiles” starts off slow, but before you know it, turns into a rocker with a good ol’ guitar solo. “Paper Posies” is entrancing with Litton’s gorgeous voice and their unique harmonies, accompanied by guitars and keys in a wall of sound. The closing track, “Fearless Heart” is a beauty. Again, the band’s harmonies shine; contrasting, yet symbiotic, with Litton’s voice swirling around McClellan’s more uniform tone. Does a fearless heart help us face the monsters outside?

The album has a nice flow to it and is a listener’s delight from beginning to end. It’s a remarkable collection of songs; polished, dark, and dreamy. The pair’s songwriting, music, and singing come together in coherent, dynamic fashion. I’m wishing for a CD or vinyl release of There’s Monsters Outside in the near future.

I discovered Spyderland through Drew McClellan’s parents, longtime friends of mine. When they suggested I check out the band, I was certainly agreeable and had no idea what to expect. But I’m always open to new music, and as you can tell, to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Spyderland is a younger, newer band for me to profile. They’re just what I needed. They embody my website’s mission statement: Highlighting the new, while honoring the influence of the past. I look forward to seeing where they go from here.

Check out Spyderland’s There’s Monsters Outside (and their cover band, Buffalo Party) at: http://spyderlandmusic.com

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