Estrangers emerged from the ashtrays and smokestacks of the old industrial city of Winston-Salem in the summer of 2011, cutting through the haze of an oft-apathetic town with a surprising, honest vibrance and potent energy. Within the first six months of their existence they had recorded and released Black Ballroom, an 8-song debut EP rich with promise, and shared stages with heralded groups like Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Titus Andronicus.

Yet, soon after came some months of uncertainty, band members left and the group found themselves drifting. Newer material dabbled with raucous and raw Californian garage rock, while at other times they found themselves swimming in cascading keyboard sounds and airy guitar riffs. Eventually, from this came a new EP, Sunmelt, a summery lo-fi experiment in playful songwriting, caramelized in psychedelic colour and warble.

Then for four wintery days in January, the band hid themselves away and committed their new album to 24-track analog tape. At first listen Season of 1000 Colors is the logical successor of Sunmelt: an album bursting at the seams with brilliant psych-pop hues, delivered with focus and captured with shimmering highs and throbbing lows; the record ebbs and flows like a wash of sea-salted melodrama.

Download Cape Fear below, full of bombastic and romantic exuberance, part cinematic dreamscape and part Italian beach excursion.

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