Chicago indie rock quintet Edens channel memory, nighttime drives and their Midwestern roots on “Empty Details,” the first single from their forthcoming debut album, Static Fiction.
Chicago indie rock band Edens have released “Empty Details,” the first single from their debut album Static Fiction, due October 23 via Dedd Foxx.
The five-piece brings together musicians with deep roots in the Illinois and Iowa scenes. Vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Burden is joined by guitarist Josh Shell, keyboardist Adam Penly, bassist Crawfie Ward and drummer Pete Gray, with members having crossed paths through various projects and friendships over more than 25 years.
Recorded at Chicago’s Jamdek Studios with engineer Mike Lust, Static Fiction pulls from indie and alternative rock while carrying the band’s shared history into the present. Across nine songs, Edens explore memory, dreams, nostalgia and the unknown through what they describe as a “surreal Midwestern” perspective.
“Empty Details” opens the album with a hazy mix of psychedelic and surf-rock influences. Burden describes Static Fiction as something of a road trip record, inspired by the experience of driving around at night and discovering music with friends, an especially formative memory for the band growing up in the Midwest.
Chicago itself also finds its way directly into the song. The lyric “permanent plastic flags” was inspired by the car dealerships lining Western Avenue, while the larger record reflects Burden’s experience of watching both himself and his surroundings change over time.
That local connection extends through nearly every part of Static Fiction. The album was written, recorded, mixed, mastered and pressed in Chicago, with its artwork and design also created locally.
Drawing comparisons to acts including Built to Spill, Swervedriver, Deerhunter, Sparklehorse and The Replacements, Edens use “Empty Details” to introduce a debut rooted equally in reflection and forward motion. Static Fiction arrives October 23, with a limited vinyl pressing of 150 copies to accompany its release.