Witching Waves (band)

This article is about the band. For the amusement ride, see Witching Waves.

Witching Waves
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresPost punk, noise pop, indiepop, indie rock
Years active2013–present
LabelsSoft Power Records
HHBTM
Odd Box Records
Specialist Subject Records
MembersEmma Wigham
Mark Jasper
Will Fitzpatrick
Estella Adeyeri
Past membersEd Shellard
Websitehttps://witchingwaves.bandcamp.com/

Witching Waves are a DIY indie post-punk band from London, England.[1] Drowned in Sound hailed their debut long-player as one of the best albums of 2014.[2] They have released four full-length albums on independent record labels.

History

Witching Waves (Emma Wigham: drums; Mark Jasper: guitars) formed in late 2013 following the dissolution of Wigham's previous band Weird Menace, which Jasper had also joined in its final incarnation. The new band released a debut self-titled EP on the Suplex Cassettes label the same year[3] and a cassette single on Soft Power Records in early 2014.[4]

Witching Waves’ first album Fear of Falling Down was released in 2014 to positive reviews.[5][6] A cassette EP of cover versions was also issued as a joint release with As Ondas,[7] including each band versioning one of the other band's songs. Witching Waves became a trio the same year with the addition of bassist Ed Shellard (also of Gloss Rejection).

2015 saw a split EP of new material, released to mark a joint UK tour with Rattle;[8] the band also previewed new tracks from their forthcoming second album,[9][10] including “Twister” which Clash called “feral yet sharply melodic”.

Crystal Café was released in 2016[11] to widespread praise,[3][12][13][14][15][16][17] drawing comparisons to Sonic Youth, Pixies,[18] the Vaselines[19] and the Cure.[20] The album was released in the United States by HHBTM Records,[21] and short tours of the US and Europe followed; the band also played Indietracks. Estella Adeyeri (also of Charmpit and Big Joanie; previously of Dirtygirl and Junk) joined Witching Waves the same year, replacing Shellard on bass.

In April 2019 the band released their third album, Persistence, on Specialist Subject Records. Like all of their releases to that date it was recorded by Jasper at his (now former) Hackney recording studio Sound Savers. The band recorded the album on tape live over two days.[22][23]

In September 2019, they supported Australian band Camp Cope on a UK tour.[24]

After a hiatus and a relocation from London, fourth album 'Streams And Waterways' was released in December 2023, with Jasper and Wigham joined by bassist Will Fitzpatrick. [25]

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

  • Witching Waves [First Tape] - Suplex Cassettes, MC/DD (2013)
  • Concrete - Soft Power Records, MC/DD (2014)
  • The Covers Tape EP [Split w/As Ondas], MC/DD (2014)
  • Witching Waves/Rattle EP - Seeing Double, MC/DD (2015)

Compilation appearances

  • "You" on Days of Our Youth - an Eclectic Compilation of Delta 5 Covers - Bomb The Twist, 2016[27]

References

  1. ^ "Witching Waves - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Album Review: Witching Waves - Fear of Falling Down". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Abrasive in All the Right Places - Witching Waves' "Crystal Cafe" - Stereo Embers Magazine". Stereoembersmagazine.com. 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ "TOTD - 207; Witching Waves ~ Concrete". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 17 March 2014.
  5. ^ Smith, Amanda-Gaye (18 November 2014). "Witching Waves - Fear Of Falling Down - Album Review - Overblown". Overblown.co.uk.
  6. ^ "The ground beneath us - Witching Waves ~ Better Run". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 10 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Innocent Words Presents IW10 with Witching Waves". Innocentwords.com. 8 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Premiere - Stream the new split tape from Witching Waves and Rattle". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 19 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Listen: Witching Waves - 'Twister'". Clashmusic.com. 18 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Witching Waves – "Flowers" (". Stereogum.com. 17 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Witching Waves 'Crystal Cafe' To be Released February 26th on HHBTM (USA) / Soft Power (UK)". Innocentwords.com. 12 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Album Review: "Crystal Cafe" by Witching Waves". Musicforlunch.com. 1 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Music reviews". Bluesbunny.com.
  14. ^ "Music Review: Witching Waves, Crystal Café - Popshifter". Popshifter.com. 28 March 2016.
  15. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Witching Waves – Crystal Café". Narcmagazine.com.
  16. ^ Scott, Hayley (10 March 2016). "Witching Waves – Crystal Cafe // Album Review - LONDON IN STEREO". Londoninstereo.com.
  17. ^ "Album review...Witching Waves - Fourculture Magazine". Fourculture.com. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Witching Waves – Crystal Cafe (Soft Power)". Beardedmagazine.com.
  19. ^ "Crystal Cafe - Witching Waves - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Witching Waves – Crystal Café (HHBTM / Soft Power)". Collapseboard.com.
  21. ^ "Witching Waves - Crystal Cafe 12"/CS (HHBTM)". Bigtakeover.com.
  22. ^ Fitzpatrick, Will (3 April 2019). "Witching Waves - Persistence". Clash. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  23. ^ Bourgeois, Jasmine (27 May 2019). "In Conversation with Emma Wigham of Witching Waves". Tom Tom Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  24. ^ "UK mates - CAMP COPE are returning this September..." Poisoncityrecords.com. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  25. ^ https://www.punktuationmag.com/album-review-witching-waves-streams-and-waterways/
  26. ^ "Witching Waves - Persistence LP / CD". Specialist Subject Records. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  27. ^ "Days of Our Youth (an eclectic compilation of Delta 5 covers) | Bomb The Twist". Bombthetwist.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.