Drawing us in with a dark Americana guitar soundscape, filled with mystique and drama in the wake of the full moon, Road Movie open Candyman / For the Night with the visually striking lyrics, “Pterodactyl love, I got you wrapped inside my wings, I’m floating over the rollercoaster, over everything, I’ll take you back to my liar, I wanna make you something sweet, I’m a million years old, but you know I still gotta eat…”
The switch-up that follows is sublime – tapping into a lighter, more playful and euphoric energy, before the pulsating, brooding guitars return for a sonic interlude. We are obsessed with the power pop harmonies, evoking notions of the 60s, and the sonic ebbs and flows of the track which create an unmistakable cinematic allure.
Visually, the lyrics are so descriptive already – it feels like we are in a metaphorical movie, but there is also no doubt that the track would be perfect for a multitude of sync placements, perhaps a reboot of True Blood, or a pivotal scene in a TV show like the psychedelic Nine Perfect Strangers.
The instrumental solo is sublime, almost transcendental, inviting us into an introspective state yet fully hypnotised by the mastery of the performances before a final reprise.
We learn that Road Movie brings together a tight-knit group of longtime friends and seasoned musicians whose chemistry has been shaped through years of collaboration across Los Angeles, New York City, and beyond.
The band features brothers Justin and Nathan Clay, alongside lead guitarist Nathan Goldstein, bassist Matt Garton, guitarist Irakli Gabriel, drummer Beak Wing, and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Johnston. Their bond began as an annual friends’ trip which gradually evolved into a songwriting and recording retreat in the high desert of southern Utah.
Their sound is deeply inspired by the classic rock of their parents’ generation, embracing muscular rhythms, soaring guitar work and strong vocal harmonies that draw from the rich Americana textures of The War on Drugs, Wilco, and Ween, they also lean into the cinematic sonic explorations of Radiohead, but it is clear that Road Movie are manifesting an identity unto their own design.
We will be adding Candyman / For the Night to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of the band, including their 2024 album,Long Night in the Afterlife.