Landshapes

Evolved from the multi-instrumentalist collective <a href="spotify:artist:3JJAUqYAGTDFovH8FasVxl">Lulu & the Lampshades</a>, London's Landshapes combine spontaneous-sounding, rhythmically complex indie rock with vintage-pop melodies and rich harmonies. The project made their full-length debut in 2013 with Rambutan. Their third album, 2020's Contact, was recorded with experimental producer <a href="spotify:artist:2vvaBnZLZh65JFyWp67Mhn">Kwes.</a>

Landshapes' core lineup of Luisa Gerstein, Heloise Tunstall-Behrens, Jemma Freeman, and drummer Dan Blackett remained unchanged after their 2009 incarnation, with the former three members frequently rotating and sharing instruments. After the band had toured under their former moniker for a couple of years, their name was misspelled at a Paris venue. This mix-up proved to be a happy accident that stuck as the group moved further away from the playful sound that spawned the social media hit "Cups" and toward a bolder, experimental approach. The material penned under the Landshapes name came after hours spent in a dingy rehearsal space in London pouring over every note and detail in a bid to perfect their revised sound. In late 2011, they were ready to head to the studio with Ash Workman (<a href="spotify:artist:54QMjE4toDfiCryzYWCpXX">Metronomy</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:687094MtNCTh262Otm1LOD">Summer Camp</a>) and recorded their debut album, Rambutan. It was released on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bella+Union%22">Bella Union</a> in 2013.

For their second long-player, Heyoon, the group retreated to a cottage in Cornwall to write songs inspired by American short stories and Dutch conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader. They then recorded the material with producers Giles Barrett and <a href="spotify:artist:10kGEgP8MxhlfeA2tMinsL">David Holmes</a> at London's Soup Studio. The Palindrome EP, a collaboration with London's all-female choir <a href="spotify:artist:0OiBqi1sa6t9QjaSmaZssJ">Deep Throat</a>, appeared a month before Heyoon -- named for a mispronunciation of a secret pavilion in Southeast Michigan -- arrived on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bella+Union%22">Bella Union</a> in May 2015. Landshapes recorded their third album live at Soup Studio, this time with producer <a href="spotify:artist:2vvaBnZLZh65JFyWp67Mhn">Kwes.</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:2auiVi8sUZo17dLy1HwrTU">Solange</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3alosBIW8nGb6TXqfM8wbI">Nérija</a>). Titled Contact, it saw release in late 2020. ~ Marcy Donelson & Scott Kerr, Rovi