untitled (halo)

Looking forward to the future despite a bleak outlook? That may just be the most difficult mental feat of all in these harsh times. Ari, Jack, and Jay pull it off so smoothly, however, that when listening to tracks such as “That’s Honey” (2024) or “Finding God In The Cut” (2024), the delicate blend of hypnotic nostalgia, hazy escapism, and nocturnal romance sinks into your mind and soul almost without you noticing. The LA trio weave their way through dreamy soundscapes whose peaks and valleys lie somewhere between Dean Blunt, Broadcast, and Portishead. Buckets of inspiration flow into EPs such as “Towncryer” (2023) and “Headbanger” (2024), which – whilst often sounding like the soundtrack to an unreleased coming-of-age drama from the 90s – nevertheless have their own signature. Nuances of dream pop and neo-psychedelia lie like a veneer over the production; a few sepia-toned slacker riffs shimmer through arrangements of trip-hop and hypnagogic pop, the vocals half-murmured, often little more than a whisper: What this trio releases under the name Untitled (Halo) is among the most exciting music currently spilling over from LA’s vibrant underground scene to Europe. Anyone who likes to drift off and let themself go should at least give them a listen.