Very seldom can a stellar band split up and form two equal (if not better) bands in the wake of their demise. This is fortunately the case with Skywave, a since defunct noise-pop band from Virginia which yielded both previously covered A Place to Bury Strangers and today’s band, Ceremony.
Whereas APTBS was formed in NYC by guitarist Oliver Ackermann, ex-Skywave members Paul Baker and John Fedowitz continued on as Ceremony in their hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Though Ceremony also continues down a similarly apocalyptic path with their blend of harsh noise rock, they’ve taken added a more notable synthetic element to their songs, which splinter with distortion, hard-hitting drum machines, and whirring electronic melodies.
I’ve uploaded a single track from their newest offering, 2007’s full length recording, Disappear. As a bonus, I’ve also zipped up an earlier EP for your listening pleasure.
download Ceremony- ‘I Heard You Call My Name’
Ceremony- Our Last Goodbye EP
1. Our Last Goodbye
2. Someday
3. Marianne
4. Do You Love Me?
Lo and behold! For the first time in what feels like ages, I can effectively post purchasing links and live videos as additional treats, since Ceremony is a currently active band with easily available material. On that note, here’s an appropriately glitchy video for the song ‘You Never Stay,’ also featured on Disappear.
and last but not least, a few web resources for more information and purchasing:
Myspace page
Purchase Disappear from Safranin Sound