According to the group’s Bandcamp, the record began as demos recorded in family bathrooms in Austin and, upon being dissatisfied with the results, found their way to an art studio in Lawrence, Kansas, where the ten songs that make up GLICFY would take shape.

And take shape they did. Sweeping Promises favor the trebly, thin guitar lines seen in post-punk of both yesterday and today, exemplified by Wire and NOV3L, respectively. Rather than rely simply on these minimal aesthetics, however, Sweeping Promises incorporate pop-leaning vocal harmonies, sung by singer/bassist Lira Mondal, and creative synth playing.

Making the rest of the noise is Caufield Schnug, who plays guitar and drums. His compositions provide Mondal with a canvas for her vocals, which are what elevates the record beyond typical post-punk standards. Take “Throw of the Dice,” for example. Mondal’s harmonies while singing the song’s title provide the song with ear candy in a genre that sometimes goes out of its way to avoid such a thing. Schnug’s lead-guitar playing acts in a similar way, throwing notes into classic pent-up riffs that elevate the song beyond what it could’ve been.

Sweeping Promises’ style is certainly one of tight, enclosed spaces, and what makes this record so strong is when they step out of such areas, like on expansive album highlight “Walk in Place.” Indie rock guitars worm their way into the pre-chorus and more vocal creativity from Mondal over synths and thick bass in the bridge cements this song as GLICFY’s strongest. The strength of the aforementioned tunes, plus the weighty swagger of “Can’t Hide It,” puts the second half of this record above its first. “Can’t Hide It” is a song on the record so expansive in its difference that it’s a wonder only two people play on it. The bottom end is throbbing, the guitar sounds like two, and the synths provide a strange robotic flourish to the human march of the beat.

With their new second record, Sweeping Promises offer a colorful look into a branch of post- punk not typically observed by those with more affection for the greyness of Joy Division and the like.

Order Good Living Is Coming For You by Sweeping Promises HERE