Golden Apples: Bananasugarfire

Like most bands from Philadelphia, Golden Apples don’t disappoint. Appearing on our radar last year with their excellent self-titled release, in what started out as a solo project of vocalist/guitarist, Russell Edling, has quickly formed into something much bigger.

Golden Apples saw Edling joined by drummer Melissa Brain (Marge, Goshupon, Amanda X, Cave People, Yankee Bluff), bassist Matthew Scheuermann (Lowercase Roses, Petal), and Mimi Gallagher (Eight, Nona, Year of Glad, also of Cave People), and the core line-up continues to move forward with wonderful results on their follow-up and Golden Apples’ best record so far, Bananasugarfire.

While Golden Apples was an immediate rush of folk-inspired lo-fi hooks and punchy melodies, with a quick turn-around, Bananasugarfire sees the Edling-led force raise the stakes. Both lyrically and sonically, here Golden Apples broaden the scope with the kind of songs that will undoubtedly land in more living rooms in the coming months. The key? A little bit of open-hearted honesty.

Having spoken of a similar thing last week with regards to Bad History Month’s God Is Luck, Sam Sprecher’s fellow Philly natives adopt similar measures here. And the results are grand.

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Starting with Anti Ant Car. “The spotlight kid is me tonight,” sings Edling, which is a gateway into these rocking, street-level serenades that echo the kind of rustbelt nostalgia even those not from the area can relate to. Essentially, it’s Edling realising that those outside of the bustling hubs of major cities can have an equal (if not greater) impact. By shining a light on his own community and experiences, this sense of honesty and bravery shows a new dimension to the band.

Next is the fuzzy, power-gaze blanket of sound that is Guard Stick (“I wanna make you my brother / I wanna make you my brother”). Thematically and sonically, it feels like a reincarnation of Big Star with the melodies to match.

And while Edling talks about the storm clouds on Little Bronco (“Looks like the rain is coming sooner than they said ”) sonically, it’s anything but. A song filled with the kind sunny melodies and breezy hooks that not only Granddaddy gifted us, but also the kind of glorious sound waves tailor-made for summer festival glory.

Meanwhile, if anyone was erring on the side of caution, then their worries will recede on the back of the power-pop majesty of Waiting for a Cloud. “I think we’’ll be fine / Colouring outside the lines,” sings Edling during this windows-down-volume-up number that oozes with wonderful civic vitality. It continues on Sugarfire, too – a diesel-power shoegaze romp that sounds like Duster emerging through the miasma of misery. It’s a beautiful thing.

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And speaking of, if Wayne Coyne was looking for a host of new collaborators, then Park seems like the perfect audition. Here, Golden Apples move through gears at the blink of an eye with the kind of song that marks a clear progression for the band.

While closing number, Green, has all the hallmarks of defining closing tracks (you know the ones; big melodies and crushing rhythms that fill the mind with nothing but good thoughts), Materia is perhaps the defining moment of Bananasugarfire. “I’ll been dreaming you” sings Edling, who is far more overt and unafraid to unveil his emotions in front of the reverb haze.

Materia is a song that not only showcases the latest guise of Golden Apples lyrically, but sonically it has the brawn to match. And both facets are rife throughout Bananasugarfire. Golden Apples’ best moment committed to tape so far.

Bananasugarfire is out now via Lame-O-Records. Purchase from Bandcamp.