Ice Cold

Do you guys remember Australian trio I'lls?

A decade after covering their music, I'm glad I got to experience more of their sound (in some form) once again. Armlock is a project started by Simon Lam (vocals and guitar) and Hamish Mitchell (guitar and keyboards) who were two-thirds of I'lls. They met 14 years ago while studying jazz at Monash University in Melbourne and have been part of each other's creative path ever since. You also know Simon as one of the driving forces behind electronic duo Kllo, who we've been obsessing with over the past few years.

"Ice Cold" is part of their sophomore LP Seashell Angel Lucky Charm, officially out today via Run For Cover Records. A follow-up to their 2021 debut Trust.

If I have to describe the album in a few words, then it would be a breath of fresh air and the feeling of freedom to explore.

The album is heavily inspired by nostalgia, often heard in bedroom and dream pop, but I do appreciate the subtle use of synths, evidence of their electronic/IDM history. I picked to showcase "Ice Cold" because I find it brilliantly mesmerizing. Easily one of the most captivating tracks on the record and the glitch switch towards the end of the song is giving me instant goosebumps.

Because of their background, the duo is able to handle the entire recording and engineering process on their own. One less worry about studio time. They used this opportunity to enjoy various songwriting directions, pursuing a particular vibe, and layering their ideas in their home studios, without knowing where each song would ultimately end up.

Lam elaborates, "There’s no real distinction between writing, demoing, and final production, it’s all done at the same time. It’s a workflow that is much more common in electronic music and how we started making music together."

Seashell Angel Lucky Charm is available on vinyl on Armlock's Bandcamp page.