68creep Presents A Wowzer Debut LP 'Goodnight, Sweet Betty'

68Creep is a shady grifter rock for those, who are not afraid to dabble in dark timeless melancholy. This music is thoughtful and immersive, engulfing the listener and triggering one’s deep and dark imagination in the same way that Julie Cruise did once upon a time and also the soundtracks for various other David Lynch films.

NYC outfit 68creep released their debut LP ‘Goodnight, Sweet Betty’ on September 22. Just ahead of the release date, they unveiled their video for 'Stone Cold Kiss'. This second single follows up the first one from this album ‘Black Cat’.

68creep is an intriguing band. Indeed, the spirit of filmmaker and musician David Lynch seems to hover above everything the band does like a mercurial patron and spiritual advisor. “What would David do?” has even become the band mantra for swerving creative blocks, ensuring that the music brims with the same essence as one of his films. The album's name ‘Goodnight, Sweet Betty’ even derives from a quote from Lynch's film ‘Mulholland Drive’.

68creep’s backstory even starts with a very Lynchian starting point, with John McRandle and Patrick Casey meeting at a New York City advertising agency, where they were marketing drugs designed to combat schizophrenia. The Kiss/Kill/Repeat label gave the band the backing and impetus they needed and very soon they were pushing their heavy, surreal, carny, creepcore to like-minded music fans.

It says a lot about an artist when those trying to catch their essence in a witty sound bite move from being concise and descriptive into the realm of high literary art. Any band that can be metaphorically described as sounding like “murder at midnight” and “beautiful melodies telling me terrible things” makes for a tantalising proposition.

Inspired by numerous artists, including PJ Harvey, Dead Weather, Beach House, The Misfits, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper and The Cramps, they offer a fusion of dark emotions, doom-laden pop, acid-laced musical retro-mania, and the dark underbelly of the hippy dream turned bad.

This new album follows their debut EP ‘The Rumors Are True’. A perfect storm is coming with the new LP, which promises more of the same dark and heavy, ethereal weird beauty and slightly tongue in cheek qualities that have become the band’s hallmark.

At the heart of this release is John McRandle’s big, earthmoving baritone guitar. It can churn out a song’s sludgy riff, or sparsely sprinkle it with a chilly melody. Drummer Patrick Casey leans into his work, riding his toms taiko style, while giving even the heaviest grooves a good hard swing. Colyn Hunt anchors the foundation with deep-in-the-pocket grooves and a taste for airy, melodic runs. Riding on top of this swell is Kimberly Seewald’s vocals. Together, 68creep wails and soars, hitting the listener hard, but every so often, also comfort and console.

Who knows? Perhaps somewhere out there, David Lynch is even listening.

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