After making waves with their ethereal self-titled debut album last year, the sonic alchemists of MothBreath- vocalist and keyboardist Kirsty Dougall and multi-instrumentalist John Libert- return with their latest single ‘Brand New’. This track sees the duo deepening their signature fusion of lush, atmospheric textures and evocative lyricism, offering listeners a moment of reflection wrapped in a hypnotic soundscape.
From the outset, ‘Brand New’ envelops the senses, its delicate electronic pulses and shimmering guitars setting the stage for a track that feels weightless but also deeply grounding. Dougall’s unmistakable voice drifts through the arrangement like a soft breeze, rich with emotion yet effortlessly controlled, as if she’s whispering secrets into the changing winds. Meanwhile, Libert’s intricate instrumentation weaves a web of reverb-soaked guitar lines, subtle beats, and ambient flourishes. Each element adds further depth to the duo’s ever-expanding sonic universe.
At its core, ‘Brand New’ is a meditation on cycles- of nature, of growth, of the quiet transformations that unfold as time moves forward. It captures the rejuvenating force of stepping outside, breathing in crisp air, and allowing oneself to be reset by the rhythm of the seasons. The track’s dreamlike production mirrors this theme, ebbing and flowing like the tide, never in a rush but always evolving.
MothBreath’s influences are vast, and ‘Brand New’ bears the fingerprints of their inspirations while carving out something distinctly their own. Echoes of Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack, and Sylvan Esso flicker through the arrangement, but the duo’s ability to balance intimacy with grandeur ensures that their sound remains unmistakably theirs.
Following the acclaim of their previous releases, ‘Brand New’ arrives as another luminous addition to MothBreath’s growing catalogue. If this single is a glimpse of what’s to come, 2025 is set to be a breathtaking year for this rising duo.
