Recommended If You Like: Tomberlin, The Cranberries, Barrie, Kacey Musgraves, Japanese Breakfast, The Weather Station, Slow Pulp, Lala Lala, Big Thief. First full length since Almost (2018). Featuring Julien Baker. After 2018’s critically acclaimed Almost opened The Ophelias to a world beyond their Cincinnati home, the indie rock quartet craved a return to a sense of community. The band members no longer lived in the same city bandleader Spender Peppet (she/her) and new bassist/longtime music video collaborator Jo Shaffer (they/them) live in New York, while drummer Mic Adams (he/him) and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes (she/her) remain in Ohio. When it came time to record the candid, expansive Crocus, The Ophelias purposefully focused on the experimental, communal spirit that fueled their first record. Crocus was recorded at night in a converted “2000 percent haunted” Masonic lodge, which surely had an effect on the album’s ability to weave darker tones through the taut song structures. Engineer John Hoffman kept spirits high at The Lodge KY, ensuring the Ophelias had the freedom to experiment in the grey area between pain and rebirth. Despite The Lodge’s eerie nature, the ghosts remain personal, finding Peppet facing herself and her own truth without blinking. Through songs equally infused with references to the Bible and The Twilight Zone, The Ophelias extract mystic emotion out of the spaces between their past, present, and future. The four core Ophelias members provide a wide-reaching exploration into genre, emotion, and sonic textures over the course of Crocus. That expansiveness shines on album highlight “Neil Young on High,” a track that finds Peppet’s firefly vocals backed by harmonies from Julien Baker. On “Spitting Image” Gutmann Fuentes leans hard into country swing, showing her range as a violinist while a chorus of voices sing the taunting “ha ha ha” hook below her. Shaffer’s bass intertwines seamlessly with the drums on “Becoming a Nun,” which explodes into feedback and punk-inspired textures beyond what The Ophelias have previously created. Peppet’s direct delivery of intimate lyrics draws you in - detailing the murky line between the things we mourn and the things we remember. “Crocus represents that state of flux, between dreaming and reality or internal reflection and external action. I had to wring this out of my chest,” and as a listener you immediately identify with her. The Ophelias’ growth has been marked -- so much has been transformed and rebuilt. Crocus is a safe haven, built with trust, love, and the assuredness that comes with growing up.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Updated a month ago
Please choose your location from the dropdown below:
✔ You have qualified for FREE delivery!
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW...
You’ll receive a confirmation email once your order is placed, followed by a second email containing your tracking information once your order has been shipped from our warehouse.
All delivery timeframes start from the day after you place the order unless specified.
Gift Card purchases don’t count towards qualifying for a free delivery threshold.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver to Military Addresses in EU countries.
In the unlikely event that you don’t receive your order after the stated delivery timeframe, or your order is damaged when it arrives, please contact us.
SHIPPING EXCLUSION LIST
We currently do not ship to the following places:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Bonaire, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guadeloupe, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Martinique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Northern Marianas Islands, Oaxaca Region of Mexico, Pakistan, Reunion, Russia, Somalia, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, South Sudan, Sudan, Gauteng Province of South Africa, Syria, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
FAQ
What is the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop)?
The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is an electronic portal that businesses can use to comply with their VAT obligations on distance sales of imported goods. Since 1st July 2021, all goods imported into the EU with a value of up to €150 are subject to VAT. No additional VAT fees should be paid for the delivery of parcels in Europe under €150. For orders over €150, your order will be shipped DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid).
I was able to purchase a sealed copy of this long deleted rare edition of album Avonmore via Yachew who shipped it promptly. Their price was the best online.