ouroboros – often symbolizing self-reflexivity or cyclicality, especially in the sense of something constantly re-creating itself.
Los Angeles indie duo, Smoke Season – comprised of Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen – first captured the attention of listeners with their 2013 debut EP, Signals. Since then, the duo has garnered some pretty impressive critical acclaim with the release of their 2014 sophomore EP, Hot Coals Cold Souls. Cut to present day with the release of their third EP, Ouroboros, and we’re starting to unveil a story here as each track pristinely constructs a cohesive chapter in the book that is Smoke Season.
Opening with a soft, lovely intro to prepare you for your Ouroboros journey, the possibilities seem endless. Once the opening chords of “Loose” come into play, prepare for some proper chills. I’m immediately transported back to when “Loose” was released – I remember falling madly in love with it and deeming it my favorite Smoke Season track after watching its gripping video. “Leave behind what you can’t change / Hardly losing what you could have won / It goes away, the dull aching pain / Leave behind what you can’t chase,” sings Wortman over a bed of lush guitars while everything begins to feel like new, dangerous territory. The more I listen, the more things start to make sense in my own life.
“When The Smoke Clears” starts off smooth but packs a punch – fitting for its accompanying video which displays the trials of PTSD – and just might be the buzz track of the EP while “Emilia” was made for warm nights under the stars and self-reflection. “Someday, somehow, it all works out.”
“Santa Rosa” dials the duo’s cinematic approach up a notch, displaying Wortman’s killer vocals crisply while turmoil abounds all around. “Why can’t simple love me / How simple of me.” It’s not until the end of the track when we’re graced with Rosen’s blended vocals as the duo softly share the line of, “If you wait for me…” Foreshadowing for the full-length? We sure hope so. We’ll be waiting.
Listen to Ouroboros below:
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Ouroboros is available now here.
