Black Doldrums
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Black Doldrums | |
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| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Post-punk, Alternative Indie, gothic rock |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | Fuzz Club Records |
| Members | Kevin Gibbard (vocals, guitar) Sophie Landers (drums) Daniel Armstrong (bass)[1] |
Black Doldrums are a London-based post-punk band formed in 2016 by Kevin Gibbard (vocals, guitar, occasional synth) and Sophie Landers (drums). Originally started as a two piece project, they are known for their moody, modern incarnation of dark post-punk, although they fuse many genre elements including gothic rock, shoegaze, krautrock, psychedelia, new wave and post-punk. The band is signed to Fuzz Club Records.
History
Kevin Gibbard and Sophie Landers formed the name ""The Doldrums"", in reference to both being depressed, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and Allen Ginsberg poem The Denver Doldrums, but they changed this to Black Doldrums after being mistaken for alternative Canadian artist Doldrums. The band drew influence from bands such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Death In Vegas, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Black Angels and The Jesus and Mary Chain. After a series of home-recorded demos, the band’s sound began to develop during their live performances, characterised by guitar textures and imposing, hook and lead drumming.
In 2016, they released their debut EP, Exit City Lights, followed by Sad Paradise (2018) on Club AC30 Records[2]and She Divine (2019) [3], gaining underground recognition within the UK psych and post-punk scenes.[4] In 2022, Black Doldrums released their first full-length album, Dead Awake, through Fuzz Club Records, receiving critical acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive production.[5] [6] [7][8] In 2024, Black Doldrums released their second album In Limerence, through Fuzz Club. [9] The album was was met with widespread critical acclaim, marking a bold evolution for the band.[10] [11] The album title was formed back in 2023 by Sophie Landers, who at the time was studying psychotherapy and came across the term Limerence in reference to 'intense infatuation or obsessive attraction towards another person, characterised by intrusive thoughts, a desire for reciprocation, and a strong emotional connection. Noticing a theme throughout the lyrical content and having a personal connection to the rare and relatively unknown term, Sophie felt this would encapsulate the album theme perfectly. This was later reference throughout their album artwork and music videos.[12] [13] [14]
Black Doldrums have toured extensively across the UK and Europe, appearing at festivals such as Truck Fest, Whitby Goth Festival, Sideral France, Manchester Psych Fest, Fuzz Club Eindhoven, and supporting acts including Archive on their Europe Arena Tour (2025) and Peter Hook and the Light (2024).
Musical Style
Black Doldrums’ music combines swirling guitar textures, motorik rhythms, and introspective lyrics. Their sound has been described as a blend of post-punk urgency with shoegaze atmospherics, drawing comparisons to Joy Division, The Cure, Bauhaus and Depeche Mode.
Discography
Studio albums
- In Limerence (2024, Fuzz Club Records)
- Dead Awake (2022, Fuzz Club Records)
EPs
- Exit City Lights (2016)
- Sad Paradise (2018)
- She Divine (2019)
Singles
- "Tarantula" (2025)
- "Dying For You" (2024)
- "Summer Breeze" (2024)
- "Hideaway" (2024)
- "Into Blue" (2022)
- "Dreamcatcher" (2022)
- "Sad Paradise (Redux)" (2021)
- "She Divine" (2019)
- "There Is No Eye" (2018)
Band Members
- Kevin Gibbard – vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Sophie Landers – drums, percussion
- Daniel Armstrong – bass
References
- ↑ "Fuzz Club". Fuzz Club.
- ↑ "Club AC30 Shop Sad Paradise EP".
- ↑ "Club AC30 Shop She Divine EP". Club AC30.
- ↑ "Clash Magazine Premier People's Temple". CLASH. 29 November 2018.
- ↑ "Rolling Stone France Dead Awake". Rolling Stone France. April 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Louder Than War Black Doldrums Dead Awake". Louder Than War. 28 February 2022.
- ↑ "Black Doldrums – Dead Awake". Louder Than War. 2022-03-10.
- ↑ "Black Doldrums Channel Moody Noir Psychedelia on "Dreamcatcher"". Post-Punk.com. 2022-02-25.
- ↑ "Louder Than War Black Doldrums In Limerence Review". Louder Than War. 16 October 2024.
- ↑ "Static Sounds Club Review In Limerence". Static Sounds Club. 20 October 2024.
- ↑ "Fuzz Club In Limerence". Fuzz Club.
- ↑ "Rough Trade". Rough Trade.
- ↑ "Bearded Magazine Review 'In Limerence'". Bearded Magaine.
- ↑ "Eyeplug Review 'In Limerence'". Eyeplug.
External links
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