Heliotropes (band)

Heliotropes were a psychedelic/alternative rock band from Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Richard Thomas (bass), Cici Harrison (drums), Amber Myers (tambourine, vocals) and Jessica Numsuwankijkul (vocals, guitar). They formed in 2009 when Numsuwankijkul posted an advert on Craigslist to form a band. She was joined by Amber Myers, Cici Harrison, Richard Thomas and Nya Abudu later joined the band.[1]

Heliotropes
Heliotropes performing in Washington DC, April 2013.
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York
GenresAlternative rock, Psychedelic rock, Stoner rock, Acid rock
Years active2009-2017
LabelsManimal Vinyl, Goodnight Records
Associated actsAstrid Pierce
WebsiteOfficial page on Facebook
MembersNya Abudu
Richard Thomas
Cici Harrison
Amber Myers
Jessica Numsuwankijkul

They released their debut single "Ribbons" in 2011, and various digital singles, "Moonlite", "The Dove" and "I Walked With a Zombie", in 2012. They released two tracks called "Psalms" and "Quatto" to promote their debut album. A Constant Sea was released on 18 June 2013, on Manimal Vinyl as a digital download. A limited edition run of vinyl copies were released in 2014 on Goodnight Records.

History

2009-2012: Formation and record deal

Heliotropes formed in 2009 by Jessica Numsuwankijkul and Amber Myers when Numsuwankijkul posted an advert on Craigslist, initially trying to find musicians to perform Brian Eno-style music, but they found this too hard.[1] They played a show with Astrid Pierce and one of the members, Cici Harrison, eventually joined the band a year later. On the subject, Numsuwankijkul said "I remember being like, “Oh, we wish she was in our band” and then a year later, she was." [1] Nya Abudu answered the advert on Craigslist and the line-up was complete. They began to form their sound, instead of playing Eno-style songs.[1] In 2010, the band self-released an EP titled III. In 2011, they signed to Manimal Vinyl and released their debut single, "Ribbons", on 7" vinyl.[2] In 2012, Heliotropes released various digital singles, "Moonlite", "The Dove" and their cover of Roky Erickson's "I Walked With a Zombie".

2013-present: A Constant Sea

In 2013-2012, the band recorded A Constant Sea. They were originally meant to have a song called "A Constant Sea", but they ran out of time to record it.[1] After the recording, they went on their first US tour with Esben and the Witch.[3][4] The band released a new song titled "Psalms" as a free download on the Rolling Stone website.[5] They later on announced their song "Quatto".[6] Both tracks were to be released on the band's debut album, A Constant Sea. The album was released in June, 2013 as a digital download and later released on vinyl via Goodnight Records.[7]

Spin Magazine gave the album an 8/10, saying "bridges girl-group pop, metallic sludge, shiny psychedelia with woozy flair".[8] Consequence of Sound gave it a 4/5, asserting that the band "show a surprisingly mature and focused control of their formula on A Constant Sea, luring you in only to eat you alive."[9] Bowlegs Music made the album their record of the day saying that "A Constant Sea isn’t the sound of a band that met both only four years ago and in a completely different musical guise. It sounds like a group of long-time friends playing the music that they love, and playing it very well," giving it 8.4 and Allmusic said "Those who make it through the assault of riffs and overall detached feel of much of the record will be treated to obscured gems like "Christine," a near-perfect album closer that revisits moonlit '50s balladry through a Mazzy Star lens," and conclude the record to be "a strongly inventive debut."[10][11]

Discography

Albums
Year Title
2013 A Constant Sea
  • Released: 18 June 2013
  • Format: 12" vinyl and Digital Download

Singles
Year Title
2011 "Ribbons"
  • Format: 7"
  • Released: 2011
2012 "Moonlite"
  • Format: Digital Download
  • Released: 29 May 2012
2012 "The Dove"
  • Format: Digital Download
  • Released: 11 September 2012
2012 "I Walked With a Zombie"
  • Format: Digital Download
  • Released: 6 November 2012

References
  1. "On and off the record with Heliotropes". Impose magazine. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. "Heliotropes Ribbons 7". Heliotropes bandcamp. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  3. "Instagram Photos". Facebook. 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  4. "Timeline Photos". Facebook. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  5. "'Psalms' by Heliotropes - Free MP3". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. "Listen: Heliotropes' "Quatto"". CMJ. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  7. "Heliotropes are playing at Glasslands Gallery". Manimal Vinyl official Facebook page. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. "SPIN's Review Roundup: 100 Lengthy and Tweet-Sized Takes on June 2013's New Releases". Spin.com. 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  9. Roscoe, Amanda (2013-07-01). "Heliotropes – A Constant Sea | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  10. "A Constant Sea review". Bowlegs Music. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  11. "A Constant Sea review". All Music. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
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