COR DE LUX’S YEAR OF THE HORSE
IS OUT THIS FRIDAY
“BLIND SMILE” MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW
This Friday sees the release of YEAR OF THE HORSE, the Ipecac debut from exciting new signings Cor de Lux.
Across nine songs, the Kill Devil Hills quartet balances post-hardcore urgency, shoegaze bliss, and guitar-driven catharsis. Recorded and produced by J. Robbins (War on Women, Mary Timony), YEAR OF THE HORSE preserves the raw chemistry that defines the band while pushing their songwriting into sharper, more immediate territory.
“Blind Smile”, the track described by Loud Women as “bright, melodic and eccentric” now has a music video. About the video, Dawn says, “The video is about someone stuck in a world of complacency. It’s her journey to break free and show color to the world around her. Much like the meaning of the song it’s about being your true self.”
“The blind man smile, the deaf laugh for all to hear, to be so brave, you can’t hear anyone”
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “BLIND SMILE” BELOW:
About the track, Dawn Moraga says, “My cousin is deaf and his true laugh that isn’t altered from what he thinks he should laugh like is one of the most joyous sounds. I think this song is about for me personally trying to find that freedom to not care about what people think of me and to dig deep to find the real. It came together with John and I talking about the beauty from a true smile.. the blind smile.”
John Bliven adds, The title for “Blind Smile” came about because I wanted to illustrate an event that inspired and humbled me when I was a videographer during a Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Fishing Tournament, an event that brings hundreds of VIPs to the Outer Banks every year. I got to witness the most joy filled smiles I’ve ever encountered as they felt the scales of the fish and commented about the texture and sliminess as they saw with other senses.
Photo credit: Jordan Olivia Howell
Cor de Lux emerged from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, far removed from the scenes and infrastructure that typically nurture experimental rock bands. Rather than relocate, vocalist/guitarists Dawn Moraga and Tim Lusk, bassist John Bliven, and drummer Jacob Richardson built their own local scene. Through a pair of self-released records (Cor de Lux in 2020, and Media in 2023), relentless rehearsals, and a growing reputation for blistering live shows, the band developed their own sound, folding shoegaze, post-hardcore and art rock into something distinctly their own.
September 18th Richmond, VA. Fuzzy Cactus
September 20 Durham, NC Stanczyks +
September 25th Kill Devil Hills, NC Goombays
October 7 Philadelphia, PA Ortlieb’s
October 8 Brooklyn, NY The Broadway
October 10 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace *
October 11 Detroit, MI El Club *
October 13 Chicago, IL Outset *
October 14 St. Paul, MN Turf Club *
October 15 Davenport, IA Raccoon Motel
October 17 Louisville, KY Whirling Tiger
October 18 Asheville, NC Static Age
+ supporting W.I.T.C.H.
YEAR OF THE HORSE album cover
YEAR OF THE HORSE is available for pre-order now on multiple limited vinyl variants (including a hyper-limited Bandcamp exclusive swirl vinyl and Ipecac/Cor de Lux orange effect vinyl), standard black vinyl, cassette, CD, and digitally.
REVISIT THE STOP MOTION VIDEO FOR PREVIOUS SINGLE “THE DELI”
PRAISE FOR YEAR OF THE HORSE SO FAR:
“… full of satisfyingly distorted guitars and a beautifully brazen vocal performance…” – Vice
“One of the more refreshing voices to emerge in rock in recent memory…” – Glide
“… raw, immediate energy.” – Spill Magazine
“goes beyond both post-punk and noise-rock or any permutational crossover of the two to render something that’s varied, embraces experimentalism, and at times is quite off the wall.” – Aural Aggravation
“elusive and unpredictable” – Positive Rage
