In 2018, the city of San Francisco witnessed the inception of Topographies, a musical ensemble with a distinctive post-punk/shoegaze flavor, founded by talented musicians Justin Oronos, Jeremie Ruest, and Gray Tolhurst. The group adeptly combines the rhythmic precision and vibrant synthesizers characteristic of 80s coldwave and post-punk, drawing inspiration from iconic bands such as Asylum Party and The Chameleons, while infusing their sound with the rich guitars and atmospheric layers typical of shoegaze.
Marking a significant milestone in their musical journey, Topographies introduced their first LP, Ideal Form, in the fall of 2020 through Funeral Party Records. This collection showcases eight tracks, embodying the band’s unique aesthetic through a harmonious blend of drum machines, synthesizers, and Ruest’s celestial guitar melodies, underpinned by Oronos’ agile basslines and the evocative lyricism of Tolhurst. The creative process was further enriched by the contributions of Chris King, a member of the LA-based band Cold Showers, who played a pivotal role in engineering and producing the album, while the mastering was meticulously handled by Rafael Anton Irisarri at the renowned Black Knoll Studios in New York.
Gray Tolhurst, with a musical lineage tracing back to his father Laurence Tolhurst of The Cure, integrates his passion for independent music and 20th-century poetry to compose songs exploring the intricate tapestry of experiences that define and mold a life. Delving into themes of human perception and the elusive pursuit of an ideal existence, Ideal Form contemplates the myriad of expectations and projections individuals cast upon their experiences, reflecting on the inherent challenge of attaining a flawlessly lived life.
https://topographies.bandcamp.com/album/ideal-form
