About "Secrets Of The Sea" No other planet carries such perfectly shifting bodies of water: Not too far from the Sun to freeze, nor too close to evaporate, Earth is in exactly the right position to sustain life. Almost four billion years since forming, Earth's deep, dark oceans hold many mysteries: danger, peace, energy, transformation. Growing up on a lake in Minnesota, living near one in southern Germany and finally meeting her bandmates on a little peninsula called San Francisco, water has surrounded Loquat singer/guitarist Kylee Swenson her whole life. And during the two years of writing and recording Loquat's second full-length album, Secrets of the Sea, the organic-meets- electronic guitar pop quintet weathered many crests and troughs. Swenson and bass player Anthony Gordon got married. Family members passed on. The turmoil of creating music prevailed. Produced by the Rondo Brothers (Dan the Automator, Prince Paul, Bernie Worrell), the process of making Secrets of the Sea was a gravitational push and pull of emotion, from pain and frustration to happiness and solace. Recently finished with mixes by Talking House engineer Justin Lieberman (New Order, Blackalicious, The Matches), mastering by Bernie Grundman (Michael Jackson, Prince) and a remix by Zion-I's Amplive, Loquat can finally put its studio aggravations to rest and will soon bring Secrets of the Sea's emotional swells to live audiences everywhere in 2008.
Track List
Press Clippings June 1, 2009 Sugary, sultry vocals from Kylee Swenson were wrapped around bouncy basslines and shimmering guitars, a bit like Rilo Kiley at the more melodic, singalong points or Cat Power in a few soaring, emotion-soaked moments. The overall effect was mellow and easy to swallow - smooth, radio friendly hooks and warm (I hate this word but that's totally what they were) 'grooves'. It wouldn't make you run round the room pumped with energy for a groundbreaking new sound, but it would make you sway, shoulder dance and hit repeat. READ MORE » Source: SPIN Earth Subject: Loquat May 28, 2009 Wistful like daydreams on a Sunday morning and wispy like figures found in the clouds, Loquat's electro-tinged indie pop is sugarcoated with Kylee Swenson Gordon's syrupy vocals and effusive wordplay. The band's sophomore full-length record, Secrets of the Sea has garnered exceptional praise, and it's working on its third album. Swenson Gordon says, "Writing new music is my favorite part of the process. We are throwing a lot of ideas at the wall to see what sticks. Right now, out of about 20 songs, about seven of them are sticking like spaghetti, so we gotta keep writing." READ MORE » Source: San Francisco Chronicle Subject: Loquat Friday, April 17, 2009 Kylee Swenson Gordon and Anthony Gordon sing and play bass, respectively, in Loquat, the San Francisco indie-pop band that opened last year's Treasure Island Music Festival and is touring behind its latest album, Secrets of the Sea. In anticipation of the group's monthlong residency at Cafe Du Nord, where it will be playing every Thursday throughout May, the husband-and-wife team let us in on a few of their favorite spots to hit between gigs. READ MORE » Source: San Francisco Chronicle Subject: Loquat January 2009 Loquat’s fierce melodies and spry, engrossing song structures make Secrets of the Sea a definite victory. READ MORE » Source: Online Rock Subject: Loquat December 2008 Loquat listed under Top Five New Albums of 2008 in the music blog Culture Bully. READ MORE » Source: Culture Bully Subject: Loquat December 2008 Vocalist Swenson sings with an ethereal, lullaby voice reminiscent of Aimee Mann and Feist, only less drone-y and with lyrics that are personal and meant for some secret journal. READ MORE » Source: The Owl Mag Subject: Loquat December 2008 With calm, breezy songs, they show a strong comparison to Imogen Heap, Portishead, and Denali, yet in a style all their own. This is the type of record that says a lot quietly, packed with layers of development. READ MORE » Source: Bring On Mixed Reviews Subject: Loquat December 2008 This week’s episode features music from twelve of this year’s best as featured on our show during the past twelve months. (Including Loquat: “Sit Sideways” [from Secrets Of The Sea].) READ MORE » Source: The Bay Bridged Subject: Loquat December 2008 Loquat's "Shaky Like the Flu" off Secrets of the Sea number 14 of 30 on Bagel Radio's Top SF Bay Area Songs of 2008 list. READ MORE » Source: Bagel Radio Subject: Loquat December 2008 On October 14, 2008 hit the road to support the release of our second album, Secrets of the Sea, on Talking House Records. READ MORE » Source: Performer Magazine Subject: Loquat December 2009 Marc Hawthorne, San Francisco City Editor top 10 includes Loquat "Secrets of the Sea" at #4. READ MORE » Source: AV Club Subject: Loquat December 2008 Even the band’s sound has toughened up in recent years, since the release of their first full-length studio album in 2005, “It’s Yours to Keep.” That’s due in part to the two turbulent years that preceded their sophomore effort,”Secrets of the Sea,” released this fall on Talking House Records. The result is a bit of a biting undertone, without straying too far from the qualities that made their earlier music work, a mix of harmonies, electronically enhanced beats, and the tambour of Swenson’s Chrissie Hynde-esque vocals. READ MORE » Source: Blast Magazine Subject: Loquat December 2008 Sure, catchy tunes and a kick-ass live show help. But if you want to quit your day job, what you really need is an eye-grabbing, handmade merch box. READ MORE » Source: Ready Made Magazine Subject: Loquat December 2008 Loquat has emerged as one of the Bay area's most inventive new bands, conjuring a textured collection of compositions that are stylistically innovative and marvelously succinct. Secrets of the Sea is a secret worth telling; one that is sure to spread the name Loquat across the national landscape. READ MORE » Source: Honest Tune Subject: Loquat December 2008 Loquat was recently featured on www.uncensoredinterviews.com. READ MORE » Source: Uncensored interviews Subject: Loquat November 2008 They use some of the most interesting and cutting-edge equipment and programming to give their songs an atmosphere that goes beyond a normal 4-piece band set up. READ MORE » Source: Asian Week Subject: Loquat November 2008 I’ve been eagerly awaiting Loquat’s “Secrets of the Sea” to hit my mailbox and, I’m glad to report, it does not disappoint. READ MORE » Source: Rock Sellout Subject: Loquat November 2008 Simply put, Secrets is a more dynamic record. No longer just another pretty voice, Swenson’s vocals reflect a darker, more ominous tone than the smoothed-out textures of the music suggest. This juxtaposition adds a depth that was missing on Loquat’s earlier offerings and makes Secrets worth checking out. READ MORE » Source: Stranger Dance Subject: Loquat October 2008 Loquat was featured in the "Video of the Day" on AOL's Spinner.com Music Blog. READ MORE » Source: Spinner.com Subject: Loquat October 2008 Lyrically, they eschew songs about romance, instead opting for songs exploring loss, grief and loneliness. Owing to this, they put a unique stamp on the genre they’re working in, enabling their intelligently made pop to stand out amid an admittedly crowded field of musical peers. Loquat has a first rate lead vocalist in Kylee Swenson, who also writes the lyrics, and she backed by a talented crew of musicians. READ MORE » Source: Modern Rock Blog Subject: Loquat October 2008 The new album from Loquat is one of those rare cases where a band will make a series of subtle changes to their approach - all in the direction of producing a more sophisticated, complex sound - and have everything fit perfectly. Usually, when bands try this they crash and burn, producing dull, pointless albums with no soul. This time, precisely the opposite occurred.Secrets of the Sea is chock full of character. Of knowing glances and shy glances. READ MORE »Source: Heartache With Hard Work Subject: Loquat October 2008 Loquat's sound is predominantly made up of smoothed-out edges that are about as adult contempo as indie rock gets, but the well-executed hooks—the triumphant ending of "Go Hibernate" suggests that these guys are capable of writing household-name-making hits—never let things get droopy. Don't look now, but Secrets Of The Sea just might bridge the gap between generational record collections. READ MORE » Source: The Onion AV Club Subject: Loquat October 2008 We've always thought of our sound as the marriage of organic and electronic music. I tell friends it's like guitar pop, but from the future. There are too many amazing sounds that exist in the electronic world to deny ourselves that creative element, but we're all physical players and our music—even the most electronic stuff—is performance and not programming. READ MORE » Source: 7x7 Magazine Subject: Loquat October 2008 Some bands are so easy to pigeonhole stylistically that they're practically toss-offs, bargain bin candidates interchangeable only for their hairdos and middle finger shout-outs. Hear today, gone tomorrow. San Francisco's Loquat (no, I don't know that means) inserts itself into the stylistic sweepstakes and comes up as fresh as morning dew. Rave reviews have likened the sextet to the Cardigans, Travis and Sarah McLachlan. Lead vocalist/guitarist Kylee Swenson is Loquat's not so secret weapon, her voice taking on a chameleon texture that makes everysong an Everysong on their fourth release, Secrets Of The Sea (Talking House Records).
Great singers typically make us want to sing along, identify with their joy and pain, but they also manage to disappear within the song, allowing us some measure of invisibility as we bop our head along to the beat. Swenson's cool, alluring and altogether transparent voice is like a human Theramin at times, rising and falling with the music, collected, detached, as invisible as the wind but just as compelling. READ MORE » Source: Yahoo Music Subject: Loquat October 2008 Kylee Swenson has one of the most personable, pleasing voices to come along in some time, and her gift of capturing a chorus and making it explode with life and emotion is what puts these 11 songs way, way over the top. READ MORE » Source: Pittsburgh Daily News Subject: Loquat October 2008 The lyrics are strong, along with the accompanying musicianship, making Secrets Of The Sea a worthy listen. Loquat has real airplay potential or possibly showing up on your favorite television show soon, so be on the lookout for them! READ MORE » Source: The Fire Note Subject: Loquat October 2008 Loquat, a band based out of San Francisco, are as sweet and delicious as the Chinese fruit that they are named after. Their brand new album, Secrets of the Sea, came out yesterday, October 14th. READ MORE » Source: We Heart Music Subject: Loquat October 2008 There’s sophisticated songwriting at work here, but the well-placed synth sounds and funky low end make it super danceable as well. Add to that Kylee Swenson’s strong vocals and moving personal lyrics, and you’ve got an album that should appeal to fans of indie pop and synth-rock alike. READ MORE » Source: The Bay Bridged Subject: Loquat October 2008 In one scene, we shot in a popular public park and a bunch of little kids and parents with babies kept coming up to us and asking for our balloons. We needed them as props, but it’s sort of cold-hearted to deny a baby a balloon, right? Our video might have been even better if it wasn’t for those meddling kids and their insatiable greed for balloons. READ MORE » Source: Culture Bully Subject: Loquat October 2008 A sturdy collection of electronic-kissed guitar-pop, Secrets is stained with mascara-tracked tears of ecstasy and anguish related to these milestones. The opening track, "Harder Hit," captures that emotional push-and-pull with lyrics that sting, yet still offer hope READ MORE » Source: SF Weekly Subject: Loquat October 2008 This time around, music from its imminent 2008 sophomore release Secrets of the Sea is being used for a relaxed video whose ubiquitous balloons recall the 1956 French fantasy The Red Balloon and even Patrick McGoohan's insanely awesome 1967 TV show The Prisoner. READ MORE » Source: Wired Subject: Loquat October 2008 Loquat has had a long and colorful ride – and they have quite the stories to show for it. READ MORE » Source: Performer Magazine Subject: Loquat September 2008 Video Interview with Loquat at the Treasure Island Music Festival Saturday, September 20. Source: imeem Subject: Loquat September 2008 The popSiren girls take the show to the Treasure Island Music Festival! Featuring an exclusive interview with Loquat! Click Here To Watch The Episode READ MORE »Source: PopSiren TV Subject: Loquat September 2008 Swenson’s voice soars like Sarah McLachlan, but her lyrics cut like Cat Power. Kylee captivates as she sings throughout all 11 tracks on this debut album. The lyrics are clear and sharp filled with deep phrases that are superb for a singer who draws thick emotion into her vocals. READ MORE » Source: Pop Syndicate Subject: Loquat September 2008 The Bay Area's Loquat has the same soft, light, and pretty but dark quality as Lush and Mazzy Star; bands that at some point or another worked their way into college radio hipness in the 90s. Loquat's a little bouncier, though, like a distant cousin to New York's Brazilian Girls. Their new album, Secrets of the Sea, comes out October 14 on Talking House Records. READ MORE » Source: Mother Jones Subject: Loquat September 2008 San Francisco dream-pop merchants Loquat won't release their new album until next month. But fans can get a sneak preview when the group takes the stage early Saturday at the Treasure Island Music Festival. We asked the group's mouthpiece and bassist Anthony Gordon to tell us what to expect. READ MORE » Source: San Francisco Chronicle Subject: Loquat July 2008 San Francisco band Loquat took stage before Tilly, and it was one of those things where you totally forget you love a band until you see them again and are reminded why they are so close to your heart. I'm an asshole for forgetting Kylee Swenson has one of the prettiest and sultriest voices live; she's capable of not only purring into your ear for build-up but also for belting out to really drive home her range. The band is currently testing out the waters for new full-length Secrets of the Sea that will drop in October; if tracks like "Harder Hit" are any indication of the fuzzed out layered guitar goodness I witnessed live, I am thoroughly excited to spin that record in my beat-up boom box.
READ MORE » Source: The Tripwire Subject: Loquat May 2008 Let us appreciate, for a moment, the beauty of the local record label. It's a mutually beneficial way to represent the music & arts scene and demonstrate appreciation for the area in which it resides, and is just a really cool addition to any city. San Francisco can therefore show appreciation for Talking House Records, a local label featuring local talent. READ MORE » Source: The Owl Mag Subject: Loquat |
Featured Releases
|
Facebook
YouTube
Flickr
Twitter