Reportedly, there is a peak in breakups around Valentine’s Day, so a heartbreak release during this period from Spanish indie pop duo The Royal Landscaping Society makes total sense. On their three-track Fractals EP, Cris Romero (vocals, guitar, six string bass, keys, machines) and David Vidal (bass) combine beautiful, dreamy music with beautiful, clever lyrics. The title song starts off strong (“All my recurring mistakes and sore regrets // Lay out a geometric design // Unfulfilled expectations distinctly for // A cyclic pattern of defeat”), and it does not let up after that. The stripped back Untitled ending (“Every second painfully slow // And I can’t help but miss us”) encourages reflection. However, it is opening track When There’s Nothing Left To Look Forward To that stands out here—perfect synergy between guitars, electronics and vocals, enchanting and mesmerizing.
Fractals—recorded, mixed and mastered by Cris Romero—is out now digitally and on limited 7″ vinyl through Matinée Recordings.