ACER (not the tech brand) are a dream pop duo who have turned endings into new beginnings. Multi-instrumentalist Kyle Gottschalk and vocalist/art director Connory Ballantyne both ended significant relationships around the same time. Both decided to take trips away to reflect on the closing of one door and it turned out to be the opening of another. Both were previously in a band called House Art but decided to form ACER because of their shared live experiences and wanting to create music out of that rut. They became housemates for the pandemic and their debut self-titled EP has just come out now.
New single “Someone Else’s Dream” starts off ephemeral and light as it dreamily fumbles through its dream state. Then at the halfway mark, it glitches into a more visceral gear. The guitars and drums take on a diving post-rock menace and it reflects the beauty and sadness of knowing a relationship is ending. Connory calls the release a “catharsis”. For me, there’s also a shoegazing element to their sound too – dare I say… dreamgaze? If it is not an official genre, it should be!
Enjoy the single below – both it and ACER are out now. For more information on ACER, visit their Instagram.
Support Higher Plain Music
Higher Plain Music is part of the Higher Plain Network – a one-man indie media project. If you like what I do, please consider supporting me via Patreon for as little as $1/£1 a month. In return, you’ll receive additional perks for supporting me, such as behind-the-scenes content and free downloads. You can also donate using PayPal. Sharing the website helps too or using the affiliate buy now links on reviews. I receive a few pence per Amazon sale. All your support will enable me to produce better content, more often. I’d love to make this a full-time media network and your support can make that happen. Thank you.