Spiral XP share "Faith Electric" single ahead of Blue Earth EP

The EP marks the band's return after two years of radio silence. The album I Wish I Was a Rat was released two years ago, almost to the day. This new EP also introduces a new line-up, with founder Max Keyes and bassist-vocalist Lena Farr-Morrissey joined by TV Star’s Che Hise-Gattone on guitar and Bryan Coats on vocals and drums. The pair had previously worked with Spiral XP on 2024’s joint EP TVXP.

"Faith Electric" follows the EP’s title track, shared last month. The band describe the new single being split in two: the first half features Keyes' vocals channelling cult worship, while the second half moves into an ethereal, dreamy place, with Farr-Morrissey’s lush singing style contrasting Keyes' harsher delivery.

The EP was produced with JooJoo Ashworth (SASAMI, Automatic, Dummy), who encouraged experimentation and a loose approach. “JooJoo is always down to be crazy and push our sound in new directions,” Coats said. “He knew all of these signal chains that he wanted to use and was being a madman.” The band embraced that approach, with Farr-Morrissey pulling lyrics from books as they recorded, and Keyes bringing in unfinished songs to see where they'd go.

Blue Earth takes its name from Blue Earth, Minnesota, where the band sheltered during a tornado while on their first tour. “We had to turn around in the eye of the storm and drive back to Blue Earth, where we took shelter in a gas station. It was a harrowing experience that brought us together,” Keyes said. Farr-Morrissey later processed the experience in the EP’s title track. “I wrote the 'Blue Earth' lyrics in the van after the tornado; it was my way of processing what happened,” she said.

The band play Seattle's Tractor Tavern with Dummy and Golomb on 23 October.