Steve Queralt – Swallow
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Origin: London, UK
Genre: Electronica, indie rock, ambient
With Swallow, Steve Queralt—best known as the founding bassist of Ride—returns with a solo record that is both a nod to his musical roots and a bold step into a rich, immersive electronic landscape. Entirely written and produced by Queralt himself, the album exudes a sense of deep personal reflection while embracing a contemporary soundscape that feels expansive, textural, and emotionally charged.
Sound & Aesthetic
Swallow flows like a cinematic dream: layers of ambient synths, pulsing rhythms, and subtle guitar textures all orbiting in delicate harmony. The record pulses with electronica's meditative precision while still holding onto the organic warmth of Queralt’s indie rock past. This fusion results in a sonic world that is as intricate as it is emotive—built on mood, memory, and atmosphere.
There’s an elegance to the production: each note feels carefully placed, each beat balanced with space. The tracks don’t demand attention—they quietly take hold of it, inviting listeners to sink deeper into their meditative flow.
Mood & Themes
The tone of Swallow is contemplative and serene, with an undercurrent of quiet momentum. It speaks to the passage of time, the fragility of feeling, and the beauty found in repetition and restraint. It's not an album that seeks climaxes, but rather one that builds subtly toward emotional resonance.
Queralt’s return to composition and solo performance is not just nostalgic—it’s rejuvenating. There's a sense of rediscovery here, an artist revisiting old terrains with new eyes, blending his foundational sonic instincts with modern, ambient-focused production.
Conclusion
Swallow is an album you don’t simply listen to—you live inside it. It’s a lush, thoughtful, and beautifully constructed work that marks a meaningful chapter in Steve Queralt’s musical journey. A record that rewards quiet attention and repeated plays, Swallow offers both sonic beauty and emotional depth in equal measure.
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