WICCA PHASE SPRINGS ETERNAL has once again woven a mystical tapestry with the announcement of his new EP Midnight at the Castle Moorlands, set to drop on October 25, 2024, via Run For Cover Records.
The EP, self-produced by Adam Mcilwee, is a continuation of his exploration into the ethereal and the emotional, seamlessly blending lo-fi textures with electronic production.
The lead single, “Venti Iced Americano,” which premiered today, offers a glimpse into the liminal spaces that McIlwee so often gravitates towards.
The track embodies the tension of in-between moments, where time seems both fleeting and eternal, and emotions hover between the past and the future. McIlwee has cited specific visual inspirations for this song, pointing to Westworld season 2, episode 10 (“The Passenger”), and issue #20 of Marvel Comics’ Cable (1993). These references underline the surreal and layered nature of the track, which plays out like a scene from a dream, drenched in nostalgia yet reaching forward into the unknown.
Recorded with engineer Matt Schimelfenig, known for his work with SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE and SLAUGHTER BEACH, DOG, Midnight at the Castle Moorlands carries a warm, gritty texture that aligns with the EP’s thematic depth.
McIlwee’s goal of creating an “organic sounding album” while still utilizing electronic elements is evident throughout the EP’s soundscape. It’s a balancing act that reflects his desire to ground his listeners in a tangible, almost tactile experience while leading them through his lyrical landscapes of mystical and earnest exploration.
With tracks like “Puritan Prince of Pain” and “My Name is the Endless Night,” the EP promises to delve deep into the realms of devotion and emotion, continuing the sonic journey that Wicca Phase Springs Eternal has been on for years. “I didn’t want to keep getting bigger and bigger,” McIlwee states. “I wanted something looser and more lo-fi.” This intention is clear in the way “Venti Iced Americano” unfolds—a track that feels both intimate and expansive, a quiet yet powerful reflection on the spaces between.
As the anticipation builds for Midnight at the Castle Moorlands, “Venti Iced Americano” stands as a poignant introduction to what is sure to be another compelling chapter in Wicca Phase Springs Eternal’s evolving narrative.
