Fleetwood Mac, MK.Gee, Madonna: enigmatic three-piece Night Tapes share the music that inspired their luscious debut album, portals//polarities.
Texturally ambiguous, emotionally dense, wonderfully human: the long-awaited album from one of the best bands in London right now, Night Tapes, is finally here. The three-piece have risen swiftly and sharply over the past few years, mysterious enough to sustain interest whilst personal enough to drag you into their hazy, expressive world.
This new debut record, portals//polarities is a beautifully odd body of work. Grounded in misty vocals and tender songwriting, a trip-hop edge and dream-pop current is flowing throughout, less focused on generic structures and production and instead driven by an encapsulation of mood and tone. Wondrously unique, it’s a must-hear album from the increasingly confident and creatively progressive outfit.
Stopping by Wonderland, the trio share the influences behind the work in our latest On Repeat.
Listen to portals//polarities…
Night Tapes is On Repeat…
Fleetwood Mac – “Gypsy”
Richie // I’ve always loved the approach Fleetwood Mac takes to song writing. They are all such good, technical musicians, but they are happy to lay back and keep things simple in pursuit of the song as a whole.
Big Thief – “Vampire Empire”
Richie // There is an amazing raw, emotional energy to the performance recorded on the track – it almost feels like the first take of a demo. It’s really inspiring to hear a band so confident in their songwriting and performance that they can leave things ‘as they are.’ There’s a magic in those recordings that you can’t replicate a second time.
MK.Gee – “Breakthespell”
Richie // The day before we played in New York, I managed to lose everybody on the edge of Central Park. I ended up making my way down 5th avenue, back to the hotel, listening to this track whilst watching the Christmas displays go up. It’s an experience I tried to channel as much as possible when finishing the album.
Atlas Sound ft. Laetitia Sadier – “Quick Canal”
Max: Bradford Cox’s (from Deerhunter) solo project. You can really hear Laetitia discovering the song as she’s singing it. The first take is always the best and this quite often applies to our recordings.
James K. – “Blinkmoth (July Mix)”
Max: I remember being on our first headline US tour and walking through New York at night sharing ear buds with iiris and seeing times square glowing purple in the distance. This song came on and fit the mood so perfectly. It’s got a dreamlike, formless quality that I love.
Jadu Heart – “I Shimmer”
Iiris” We’re big fans of Jadu Heart and this track has been an influence for a long time. Also we really love the new album, they just recently released. I think we drew inspiration from a range of sounds and emotions, similarly to what Jadu Heart seems to be doing with their music and of course blending atmospheric soundscapes.
Jean Dawson – “Houston”
Iiris” This was one of my most listened tracks last year. Jean Dawson has blended different genres very organically and listening to it felt liberating – connecting the familiar with new and unexpected. Also loving the balance of vulnerability and explosive energy, which can also be recognised in some of our tracks and songwriting.
Madonna – “Drowned World / Substitute for Love”
Max: I remember this track from childhood. The slow drones and the atmosphere of the music video really struck me from the getgo. What an awesome choice for a single – a slow contemplative emotional song to put on the radio.
Magdalena Bay – “Image”
Iiris: One of the best dream pop songs from last year. We walk on similar lane, blending electronic pop with rich, nostalgic textures. Kind of feels like an axiom of ours. The theme is also something that resonates: exploration of self-perception and how we are constantly reshaping the way we see ourselves in relation to the world, the duality of one’s inner and outer worlds.
deadmau5, Kaskade – “I Remember”
Iiris: Love this track, such a creative ethereal EDM song, it definitely drew some inspiration on how the song should feel for “storm”. You would find this song in my ultimate party playlist, I’m always finding a way back to it.
