Glassmaps is the solo project of Joel Stein, lead guitarist in the much-loved Howling Bells. After four successful albums with the band, the UK-based Australian has brought his worldwide touring and recording experience to this exciting new endeavour. “I found myself growing creatively and sonically,“ Joel explains. “I was aching to take it further and explore. This is how Glassmaps materialised.”
Summer Rain combines sunny psych harmonics a dreamy chorus and an undeniable sexy surf guitar strut. Joel Stein’s swooping vocals muse on the concept of wanting to be saved from oneself, of blaming others for one’s own demons. “It’s about the voice in your head that tells you the things you don’t wanna hear,” says Joel, “a necessary evil without which we wouldn’t really know who we are.”
The first release from Glassmaps’ upcoming ‘Strangely Addicted’ LP, to be released on Lost In The Manor Records later in the year, ‘Summer Rain’ was recorded at the Las Vegas home studio of The Killers’ Mark Stoermer (who plays bass on the track), and is an impactive taster of what will be one of the year’s most wide-ranging, ambitious and timeless releases.
