Bodies of Water
Ecstatic, orchestral indie rock that feels like a secular revival tent. Thundering drums, soaring brass, and communal vocals for moments of grand emotional release.
Ecstatic, orchestral indie rock that feels like a secular revival tent. Thundering drums, soaring brass, and communal vocals for moments of grand emotional release.
Bodies of Water sound like a celebration occurring in a canyon. Their music is defined by a massive, communal energy that blends the grit of indie rock with the soaring, uninhibited joy of a gospel choir. It is music of high stakes and wide-open spaces, characterized by thundering percussion, bright brass flourishes, and a sense of shared purpose that makes every song feel like a collective anthem.
What truly distinguishes them is the 'revivalist' quality of their vocal arrangements. David and Meredith Metcalf lead a rotating cast of musicians who all seem to be singing at the top of their lungs, creating a wall of sound that is both intimidating and deeply inviting. There is a cinematic, almost Ennio Morricone-esque sweep to their arrangements, where spaghetti western tension meets the earnestness of 2000s chamber pop.
Start with 'A Certain Feeling' to experience their peak maximalist era. It captures the band at their most ambitious, balancing complex song structures with hooks that demand to be shouted. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves music that isn't afraid to be big, loud, and unashamedly emotional.
Bodies of Water is a band from the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, signed to independent record label Secretly Canadian. The core group consists of married couple David and Meredith Metcalf. However, the band often plays LA shows with five or more additional musicians, such as horn players, an additional drummer, and strings. All members of the band sing, including players added for local shows. Bodies of Water's first EP and album were reviewed favorably by music critics such as Pitchfork Media and Rolling Stone magazine's New Music blog. Critics often compare their music to that of Ennio Morricone, Arcade Fire, The Mamas & the Papas, and label-mate Danielson. In interviews, the band lists gospel groups and Tropicalia musicians among its influences. Bodies of Water's first full-length album Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink was originally released on Bodies of Water's own Thousand Tongues label, and was only available in a few stores, at live shows, or directly from the band via their website. After Secretly Canadian signed Bodies of Water, the label re-released the album nationally on January 22, 2008. The band's second album, titled A Certain Feeling, was released July 22, 2008 to generally favorable reviews.
Shares indie rock, chamber pop, baroque pop (subgenres); orchestral arrangement, maximalist, analog warmth (production style)
Shares choral, harmonized, belting (vocal style); orchestral arrangement, maximalist, wall of sound (production style)
Shares choral, harmonized, belting (vocal style); chamber pop, art rock, baroque pop (subgenres)
Shares orchestral arrangement, maximalist, analog warmth (production style); belting, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares indie rock, chamber pop, baroque pop (subgenres); orchestral arrangement, maximalist, wall of sound (production style)
Shares indie rock, chamber pop (subgenres); choral, harmonized, belting (vocal style)
Shares chamber pop, indie rock, baroque pop (subgenres); triumphant, mysterious, intense (moods)
Shares triumphant, mysterious, intense (moods); orchestral arrangement, maximalist, analog warmth (production style)
Shares orchestral arrangement, maximalist, analog warmth (production style); indie rock, chamber pop, art rock (subgenres)
Shares choral, open field, baroque pop, mountain (signature)
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