Melbourne-based synthwave artist Suburban Spell presents his new single ‘Bright Gold Cross’, the first taste of his forthcoming ‘Falling Down’ EP, named such in direct reference to the long-term consequences of bad choices and giving into guilty pleasures.
The accompanying video, with its slick shadow-play, was created by Dingo Cross Films in Melbourne and produced and directed by Paul Puccio and Cassie Dart.
Suburban Spell is the solo project of Peter Endall, whose music combines the austere beauty of Kraftwerk, 80’s melodic sensibilities, driving rhythms and some noisy grind thrown in for good measure. Influenced by the heyday of new wave and 70’s-80’s electronica, this music carries the beautiful imprints of such artists as Ultravox, OMD, Visage, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Cars, Gary Numan and New Order.
Peter’s previous band Schizo Scherzo was active in the heady days of Melbourne’s 80’s music scene, playing alongside such acts such as The Eurythmics, Pseudo Echo, Real Life and Fergal Sharky. Having re-emerged on the music scene as Suburban Spell, he has found his niche in modern Australian electronica.
“The song ‘Bright Gold Cross’ is symbolic of the act of absolution in a Christian religious setting and how it can be used to dissolve years of appaling behaviour. Absolution is an act that forgives mortal sins and enables one to die in the “state of grace”, able to eventually enter heaven, This is essentially a “get of jail free card” for those inclined to use it,” says Peter Endall.
Suburban Spell’s music is an observation and commentary on the fragility of suburban lifestyle and the never-ending efforts to keep up appearances, as well as an exploration of society’s dark and fragile underbelly. But his music is also a commentary about his own vulnerabilities in the urban landscape and the wider societal norms that interlace with politics, religion and pop culture.
“Bright Gold Cross is about seeking redemption and how the church is a vehicle that allows you to hide your sins and hand out forgiveness at will,” says Endall.
“The odd circumstances of my childhood upbringing and the religious cult that I was raised in during those years have had a somewhat quixotic impact on me and Suburban Spell. Exposed to a belief system that was ultimately flawed with a very inconsistent set of values throughout my formative childhood years, these challenges are constant references when creating music for the Suburban Spell project.”
In February 2023, Suburban Spell released the ‘Split Levels – Remixes’ EP, a series of reworkings of his acclaimed 2022 ‘Split Levels’ album, involving goth-rock / post-punk legend William Faith (Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, Shadow Project, Faith & The Muse, The Bellwether Syndicate), along with New Zealand’s Robots In Love, Australia’s Ontic, Pittsburgh’s Tragic Impulse and Italian artist Kurs.
As of April 26, ‘Bright Gold Cross’ will be available across fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the ‘Falling Down’ EP can already be pre-ordered ahead of its June 23 release.
