Departures – Apollo Suns

From gratefulweb.com

A sound evolution is on the horizon as the Winnipeg-based psychedelic jazz-funk collective Apollo Suns prepare to launch their debut LP, Departures, on September 22, 2023, through Do Right! Music.

This cinematic journey, inspired by artistic luminaries such as Lettuce, Frank Zappa, and Goblin, as well as scores and soundtracks from The Warriors, Akira, Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III, and The Legend of Zelda, finds the band venturing into new territories, reflecting the ebb and flow of the pandemic years.

The band, never halted by global circumstances, engaged in remote creative collaboration during lockdown, utilizing Zoom and midi-programmed instruments to channel their creative energies. Once restrictions were lifted, Juno award-winning producer Ben Kaplan was flown to Winnipeg for an intense 10-day recording session at No Fun Club, reigniting the high-octane chemistry of Apollo Suns’ live performances.

Departures takes listeners on a genre-melding journey, introducing a rich sonic palette that includes strings, acoustic guitar, grand piano, and lap steel. The album explores the profound and playful, the graceful and ghostly, as well as gritty funk and much more, capturing the emotions of an unpredictable era.