Higher States

Last updated

"Higher States"
Higher States Sundara Karma.jpg
Single by Sundara Karma
from the album Ulfilas' Alphabet
Released24 January 2019
RecordedJuly–August 2018
Studio RAK Studios
Genre
Length4:18
Label RCA
Producer(s)
Sundara Karma singles chronology
"The Changeover"
(2018)		"Higher States"
(2019)		"Little Smart Houses"
(2019)
Music video
"Higher States" on YouTube

"Higher States" is a song by English band Sundara Karma. It was released as the third single from their second studio album, Ulfilas' Alphabet , on 24 January 2019.

Sundara Karma are an English indie pop/indie rock/art rock band from Reading, Berkshire, England. The band consists of singer/guitarist Oscar "Lulu" Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans. The Guardian has likened the band to the likes of Arcade Fire and U2.

<i>Ulfilas Alphabet</i> 2019 studio album by Sundara Karma

Ulfilas' Alphabet is the second studio album by English band Sundara Karma. It was released on 1 March 2019 under RCA Records.

Contents

Artwork

The album cover features a snake in a spiral. The cover received criticism due to the similarities to Vampire Weekend's single cover for "Harmony Hall/2021" which also features a spiral snake. Coincidentally, both singles were released on 24 January 2019. [4]

Vampire Weekend American rock band

Vampire Weekend is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson, and bassist Chris Baio. The band's first album Vampire Weekend (2008)—which included the singles "Mansard Roof", "A-Punk", "Oxford Comma", "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", and "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance"—was acclaimed by critics for its world music influences. Their following album, Contra (2010), was similarly acclaimed and garnered strong commercial success. Their third studio album, Modern Vampires of the City (2013), won the group a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2014. Batmanglij departed the group in early 2016. The band's fourth album, Father of the Bride, was released in 2019.

Harmony Hall (song) 2019 single by Vampire Weekend

"Harmony Hall" is a song by American indie pop band Vampire Weekend. It is the lead single from their fourth studio album Father of the Bride, and was released on January 24, 2019 by Columbia Records as a double A-side with "2021".

2021 (song) 2019 single by Vampire Weekend

"2021" is a song by American indie pop band Vampire Weekend. Alongside "Harmony Hall", it serves as the double A-side lead single for their fourth studio album Father of the Bride, and was released on January 24, 2019 by Columbia Records.

Composition

Oscar Pollock described the track as their "rapid firearm", [5] specifically saying that "all songs are equal, but some songs are more equal than others. This song is our equaliser, our rapid firearm. It’s invasive like a blazing probe and has more drops than Diplo." [6] [7]

Critical reception

Sam Taylor, writing for Dork praised the track, calling "Higher States" "a 10/10 banger". [8]

<i>Dork</i> (magazine)

Dork is a United Kingdom-based music publication, in print and online.

Will Oliver, writing for the music webzine, We All Want Someone To Shout For, said "Higher States" had the band's expected "eccentric vibe". He summarized the track as "a more pop-friendly Wild Beasts". [3]

Wild Beasts British rock band

Wild Beasts were an English indie rock band, formed in 2002 in Kendal. They released their first single, "Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants", on Bad Sneakers Records in November 2006, and subsequently signed to Domino Records. They have released five acclaimed albums, Limbo, Panto in 2008, Two Dancers in 2009, Smother in 2011, Present Tense in 2014 and Boy King in 2016. Two Dancers was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Music video

On 13 February 2019, the band released the music video to "Higher States". Frontman, Oscar Pollock edited and directed the music video. In orchestrating the music video, Pollock described himself as a "mad scientist". Pollock said that "I wanted to edit the video as well as direct it and it was ALL CONSUMING! I’m really not the most skilled editor and because I wanted the video to have an extremely fast pace it took me like 1 hour to do 5 seconds of footage. I was a wreck by the end of it. I did it all on my laptop and if you saw me during that period I Iooked like a mad scientist or something… grizzly stuff but I'm super happy with how it turned out!" [9]

Clash magazine said of the music video "has a cinematic quality" and that "the results are brash, eye-catching, and certainly thought-provoking." [9]

Credits and personnel

The following individuals were credited with the recording, composition, and mastering of the track. [10]

Sundara Karma
Recording and Mastering

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References

  1. ↑ Bound, Chris (27 February 2019). "Sundara Karma - 'Ulfilas' Alphabet': Reading-based outfit get ambitious on sophomore full-length". Mystic Sons. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Cotton, Shannon (12 April 2019). "Interview: How Sundara Karma Ripped Up the Rulebook and Rewrote the Alphabet - Oscar Pollock on the Crafting of Ulfilas' Alphabet, Honing Striking Stage Shows and Making Music Videos". Gigwise . Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 Oliver, Will (15 February 2019). "Sundara Karma - Higher States". http://weallwantsomeone.org . Retrieved 10 May 2019.External link in |website= (help)
  4. ↑ Finn, Rachel. "Tracks: Foals, Vampire Weekend, Blaenavon, and more". DIY. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Sundara Karma Release New Single 'Higher States'". DIY . 25 January 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Sundara Karma reveal new single 'Higher States'". Indie Is Not A Genre. Medium. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Nieuwenhuys, Stephanie (11 March 2019). "Oscar from Sundara Karma talks to Stephanie Nieuwenhuys". BBC . Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  8. ↑ Taylor, Sam. "Sundara Karma's new single 'Higher States' is a 10/10 banger". Dork. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  9. 1 2 Murray, Robin (13 February 2019). "Sundara Karma Share Lavish New Video For 'Higher States'". Clash . Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Ulfilas' Alphabet - Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
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