Raquel Dalarossa
Soulful indie rock and psychedelia meet in the sounds of Atlas Lab. The Bostonian five-piece have been at it for a good three years, but only just released their full-length debut, Glory the Night, in July. The ten-track LP shows off a skilled melding of different textures—buttery vocals, shimmering guitars, an occasional saxophone or organ—that create a palette all their own, vibrating with a warmth that ebbs, flows, and grooves along.
Their new music video for Glory the Night’s fourth track, “Brand New Empty House,” is the ideal visual match for the band’s character. It's smoky and pastel, blending hazy pinks and blues, setting the tone for a sultry and hypnotizing track. We see vocalist Solei from the back or the side, but she’s never framed head-on, further emphasizing a sense of mystery. Close-ups establish the mood, but we never see a full picture, reflecting lyrics that are oddly specific yet scattered, almost like a dream (“I’ve been struck by lightning / I pick up the frames,” and later, “Sleep in late on Friday / I fill up the jar”).
The video ends with much more psychedelic visuals and a sparkling, starry orb that seems to recall Glory the Night’s album art—galactic imagery that hints at the music’s spacey character. They may still be establishing themselves, but Atlas Lab clearly have a keen sense of who they are as a band, making it all the more rewarding to get to know them.