‘Luna Nocturna’ by This Lonesome Paradise | Album Premiere
Exclusive album premiere of ‘Luna Nocturna’ by This Lonesome Paradise, slated for release on October 18, 2024 via Bad Vibes Good Friends.
Emerging from the rugged landscapes of Joshua Tree, This Lonesome Paradise is the brainchild of E. Ray Béchard, a songwriter and guitarist who seems to have channeled the spirit of the desert itself into his music. With reverb-drenched guitars and haunting vocals, their sound is a blend of noirish mystique and raw emotion, a place where the dusty allure of the Wild West meets the shadowy vibes of a Lynchian dreamscape. Their music is like the soundtrack to a midnight drive on a deserted highway, where every bend holds a hint of danger and a whisper of lost love.
The band is more than Béchard’s vision, though—it’s a full-fledged collective. Jordin Bordeaux (keys/vocals), Ivan Garcia (drums), Chris Wilson (bass), and Herb Benham IV (slide guitar) round out the lineup, crafting an immersive soundscape that sweeps listeners into a moody, cinematic world. Think the brooding tension of a Cormac McCarthy novel, underscored by the melancholy twang of a classic western, and you’ll get a sense of the atmosphere they conjure.
Their upcoming album, ‘Luna Nocturna,’ is set to drop on October 18th, released through Bad Vibes Good Friends, and it’s shaping up to be their most daring work yet. Dripping with elements of soul, goth, and trip-hop, yet firmly anchored by their signature neo-western sound, it’s an album that’s as wounded as it is defiant. Recorded and mixed at Dharma Sound Studio in Landers, CA, with the finishing touches from mastering engineer Michael Rozon (known for his work with Chelsea Wolfe, Melvins, and Ministry), the album promises a sonic journey that’s as vast and eerie as the desert night.
“These songs came to me like a fever dream…chord progressions became melody, and melody became song. My job, per usual, is to harbor the inspiration as it flows. I am a conscious observer of the world presented to me, and my songwriting reflects that time and place, much like a calendar of my life at that moment. It is difficult for me to explain my offered reality and often more difficult to explain the music it inspires.
The songs are heavy, wounded, raw, delicate, sparse, orchestral and detailed. Much like the TLP albums of the past I do not limit their mood/genre but instead bathe in where they may lead. Somehow I hear a late 70’s quality to the record, though I don’t know exactly why…maybe due to the limited amount of, and specific, effects used. And although the album still falls into my western noir/lounge/cinema thing, it has definitely taken a step in direction away from the expected.
The studio process was much more intentional than in past records…more time in preproduction with tones and capture, as I had a very specific sonic scene in mind for each of the instruments and the part they would play in the overall soundscape. I wanted it to sound close and personal, as though you are witnessing it in a small club of an unidentifiable time period…I think it definitely does that.” – E. Ray Béchard
Though still a hidden gem, This Lonesome Paradise has already caught the attention of those lucky enough to stumble upon them. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of Timber Timbre, The Warlocks, Wand, and Spindrift, proving their range and appeal across diverse audiences. As the release of ‘Luna Nocturna’ approaches, it feels like only a matter of time before this secret finds its way out into the wider world, turning hushed whispers into a full-blown desert storm. Keep an eye out—this one’s worth the trip.
This Lonesome Paradise Official Website / Instagram / Bandcamp
Bad Vibes Good Friends Facebook / Instagram
