An indie band, comprised of the San Francisco-area brothers of Ray and Paul, have released their latest taste of music called Fading. The EP is brimming with the stylistic choices of surfer rock, paired with garage rock, all shimmering under the careful eyes of producer John Goodmanson (Weezer, Pavement). “These six songs reflect the past five years of our lives—love, heartbreak, sadness, doubt, confusion, and pain,” the duo of Ray and Paul shared. “They’ve shaped who we are and changed how we see the world and our music. We’re so grateful to finally share this with you and excited for what’s ahead.” With a slick sound that fits well in the same realm as Phantom Planet, Ash and Rooney, Ray and Paul showcase why they’re turning so many heads in 2025 and beyond.
The EP opens with “Tell Me”, a song that swoons and ways above the harmonized vocals between the two brothers, as the band quickly bring back the summer vibes that are quickly escaping the weather in most places of the country today. It’s that little burst of sunshine through your speakers that makes you want to keep listening. “Pelican” begins with a more somber vocal cadence, but the song quickly accelerates to the pre-chorus instrumental breakdown that features a killer guitar solo, and another great vocal performance between the two brothers. The steady beat behind the drum kit is reminiscent of early-Weezer, and the vocals reminded me a lot of Catfish and the Bottlemen, with the cool swagger of pub rock tunes.
”Scars” was one of the singles released from the Fading EP, and it’s clear to see why Ray and Paul chose this particular track to represent the direction they took on their newest music. It’s filled with great indie pop-rock hooks and a smooth sound to it to keep listeners engaged. “Alright” begins in a similar way as the aforementioned single, which makes it a little bit of a curious choice in the EP sequencing, but the band does their best to prevent it from being a complete copy and paste job from the previous track by adding in some folk-esque guitars paired with crisp storytelling. The title track picks up the tempo significantly and showcases what Ray and Paul are capable of crafting when they lean more heavily into their surfer rock tendencies. The EP closer of “Blue” ends on a thrilling note as it begins with some somber guitar playing that evaporate into a wall-of-sound chorus on the record’s longest song that takes the listener on a well-deserved journey through dips and valleys and rewards the fans who’ve stuck with them from their earliest days of making music together.
Fading highlights what Ray and Paul do well as musicians and they’re going to be a band we should all keep a keen eye on from this point on. If you love surfer rock paired with big indie rock hooks, Ray and Paul are here for your listening pleasure.
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