London’s Distant Voices have achieved an indiepop gem with their latest “Long Road To Home” LP. From the beginning of the first track “Lights of the City”, you start to get the feel that the songwriting is solid and is going to deliver hooks, that there is a true sense of melody; and your intuition is proven correct. Distant Voices is the solo project of Valdis Stekelis, who describes the first single “Stranger Among Friends” as “a catchy track stemming from a European junket motivated by Brexit regret and the sense of social separation, which has taken on a whole new meaning under the conditions of the current pandemic.” The record was written, and tracking started in 2019, but due to the pandemic wasn’t completed until a year later and was released March 26 this year. The record is a perfect blend of rock and pop, bringing the best of both worlds: melodies for days and hard pounding rocknroll. With a crystal clean, well balanced mix, the production allows the songwriting to shine. While the songs are catchy there is still a complexity in the writing that keeps it an interesting ride/listen. Valdis has a clear command of his voice, which serves as an instrument unto itself: there is no gruff, a clear and warm voice delivers the songs and there is never a concern for an offkey note. You certainly get the sense that this is not Valdis’ first project, as the writing and delivery are top notch. Electronic elements add a modern feel to an already solid rock/pop execution. Self-released, the album is available via Bandcamp and can be streamed on Spotify and all the usual platforms. Highly recommended!
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- Joe Pugsley