SUN ATOMS announce new 7″ single ‘Take This Love’ via Little Cloud Records. Watch the fantastically trippy video

In a whirlwind of sonic serendipity, Portland psychedelic gaze-wave outfit Sun Atoms present their new single ‘Take This Love’, a sonic odyssey that transports listeners to a realm of pure musical enchantment. The fun continues in the clever sci-fi video, shot by Bradley Tuazon at Oregon’s world-famous Airplane Home. The two-track single will be released on July 26th via Little Cloud Records digitally and on 7″ vinyl as a preview of Sun Atoms’ sophomore album.

Solar atoms consists of bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), multi-instrumentalist June Kang, Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), LA drummer Eric Rubalcava and Boise native Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez (Hi Hazel).

Mixed by iconic producer Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, Garbage) and mastered by Keith Tenniswood (Spiritualized, Death In Vegas), ‘Take This Love’ is a testament to Sun Atoms’ dedication to musical innovation and creativity, as Jsun Atoms delves into introspective realms while contemplating the “hieroglyphs in bright light” illuminated by the desert stars. Its lyrical crowning is in the line “Take this love and put it in your heart.”

‘Take this love’ came to life in the early hours of the morning after a transformative show in the enigmatic environs of Pioneertown. Entering Joshua Tree Recording Studios, the band found themselves in a creative frenzy at 3am, recorded by Tommy Dietrick (The Brian Jonestown Massacre, David J, Mark Gardener, Smallstone, Sky Parade). As the desert sands whispered ancient mysteries, the band delved into uncharted territory, forging a unique sonic tapestry that defies convention.
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“We thought we’d be back earlier in the evening, but hanging out with friends after the show set us back a few hours. When we got to the studio, the house kit was already set up for our drummer, Eric. He and Tommy laid down a driving, thundering rhythm that perfectly accentuated the sequencing pattern June Kang brought to the MPC. Peter came up with another of his brilliant, infectious pirate bass lines, while our guitarist Derek bridged the gap between melody and fuzz. The enigmatic Martian muse Mars de Ponte added a celestial touch with earworm guitar leads and ethereal keys that linger long after the final chord. Peter later doubled the lead guitar line with a toy xylophone, and Portland vocalist Allison Green (The Black Doors) also added her signature rich texture to the vocals,” explains Jsun Adams.

B-side ‘And The Lion Saw The UFO’ ventures into strange new sonic boundaries, unfolding as a sci-fi cautionary tale resonating with experimental Krautrock beats and psychedelic textures. Originally recorded with Eric Crespo of experimental psych outfit Abronia, and featuring the illustrious Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, The Dandy Warhols) on hand drums, this aural odyssey delves into dreamy reverie, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

Precision-crafted and infused with cosmic energy, Sun Atoms’ music enchants the senses, operating beyond the boundaries of sound and space. A genre-defying fusion of psychedelic rock, indie pop, and post-punk, Sun Atoms push the boundaries of their own sonic exploration, inviting listeners on a musical escapade that defies categorization.

“From the start, ‘Take This Love’ captivated my ears with its mesmerizing rhythm and unapologetically bold lyrics. While the themes of love are familiar, Jason’s lyrics always contain an element of surprise. The line “hieroglyphics in bright lights” inspired the wild idea of ​​interdimensional love, a concept that, while unconventional, emphasizes the transcendent nature of love—a connection we can feel even without a shared language. Our idea was ambitious, but the best way to visualize the song was through the story of two interdimensional beings trying to find each other,” says video producer Bradley Tuazon.

“I always wanted to shoot at the airplane house in Hillsboro, and the concept of this video was perfect for it. Bruce Campbell (owner of the airplane house) graciously allowed us to shoot there. We didn’t really have a budget, so we had to maximize our footage with what we had. The location helped us create something fun, memorable, and unconventional. From start to finish, we had a little under a month to finish storyboarding, build costumes, and figure out logistics, all while working our full-time jobs. This is the fifth production our crew has done this year, and I’m humbled every time we come together to create something special.”

Earlier this year, Sun Atoms released their single ‘Ceiling Tiles’ on 7-inch vinyl, featuring the new wave-inspired single ‘Ceiling Tiles’ and its charismatic B-side (a uniquely fuzzed-out tribute to Leonard Cohen) called ‘Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)’. They also played a series of sold-out concerts with Dinosaur Jr. and shows with Federale, The Veldt and TREMOURS, in addition to playing the likes of Seagaze Festival and Treefort Festival, where they shared the stage with Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case and Built To Spill.

The band made their debut in 2021 with the album ‘Let There Be Light’, produced by Peter G. Holmström and mixed by iconic producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), featuring contributions from Alex Maas of The Black Angels, Jasno Swarez of The Vandelles and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper). Since then, Sun Atoms has also played shows with Modest Mouse, Fishbone, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt and New Candys, and shared the stage with Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats.

‘Take This Love’ will be released on 7″ vinyl and on great digital platforms including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp on July 26th. In the meantime, the single ‘Ceiling Tiles’ is also available on beautiful 7″ vinyl.

LIST WITH NUMBER
Side A – Take This Love (4:57)
Side B – And the Lion Saw the UFO (7:07)

CREDIT
Written and performed by Peter G. Holmström, Jsun Atoms, June Kang, Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez, Mars de Ponte, Eric Rubalcava
Produced and developed by Peter G. Holmström at Air Traffic Control
Recording (additional drums) by Gregg Williams at The Trench Studio
First recording (add. vox) by Tommy Dietrick / Joshua Tree Recording Studio
First tracking by Eric Crespo at Red Lantern Studios
Mixed by Jagz Kooner at Stone Circle Studios (Avebury, England)
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curve Pusher (Hastings, England)
Peter G. Holmström – bass, guitar, sequencers, keys, xylophone
June Kang – MPC, synths, percussion, guitar
Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez – guitar, vocals
Mars de Ponte – guitar, keys, vocals, horns
Eric Rubalcava – drums, percussion
Jsun Atoms – vocals, guitar
Additional vocals by Allison Green
Gregg Williams Hand Drums
Lion Vocal Consult: Nate Wey & Christian Hurd
Cover artwork by James Coffman. Layout by Sean Gothman
Music video directed and edited by Brady Tuazon
Photographs of the artist by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Released by Little Cloud Records 2024
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TRAVEL DATES
July 20 SANDY, Oregon – Shady Pines Fest, McKinnon Airpark
Aug 10 MAUPIN, Oregon – The Oasis
Sept 7 PORTLAND, Oregon – PDX POP FEST Main Stage, Downtown
November 9 PORTLAND, Oregon – Show Bar (featuring The Veldt, Asteroid #4 and Los Mundos)