Evolving from the confines of a solo project into an emotionally reaching five piece powerhouse, Juan de Fuca renders heavy dreams through the catacombs of their beautifully textured debut album Solve/Resolve. Shortly after singer/songwriter Jack Cherry released a 6 song solo EP cavern of in 2015, he was fervently encouraged by friends in the Athens, GA scene to make something bigger happen with his material. Bassist Jack Webster and drummer Howard Stewart pushed for the formation of a full band, and when guitarists Clark Brown and Declan Farisee signed on, the group began work in earnest developing a sound that drew as much on Shoegaze’s layers of blissful chaos as it did on the clenched-jaw melodicism of wiry early aughts post-punk and Lower East Side rock icons.
Like many pieces of great art, the path to making the debut Juan De Fuca album, Solve/Resolve, has not been an easy one. Much of the record is inspired by the loss of front-man Jack Cherry’s best friend, taking in themes of grief, addiction and attempting to come out the other side. As Jack explains, “it’s about trying to overcome something that you are just absolutely living with for the rest of your life”.
There’s obviously a touching point towards bands like The Walkmen, Jack’s vocal bares a striking resemblance to Hamilton Leithauser, and the more hazy, textural sound of Deerhunter. Solve/Resolve is a record that feels vital, one minute bristling with electric intent the next sliding into morose ambiance or waves of beautiful noise. Juan De Fuca could just be among the most exciting guitar-bands you’ll hear all year.
the Band:
Jack Cherry
Howard Stewart
Jack Webster
Clarke Brown
Declan Farisee
The Fat Angel Sings 