Strand of Oaks releases Darker Shores, early versions of his last album recorded with vintage synthesizers

When Strand of Oaks‘ Tim Showalter began writing his last album 2012’s Dark Shores, it was noticeably different from the album that was released. He wanted it bathed in moody old synthesizer tones, all contemplative and eerie and maybe a little goth. The sonic direction of the record changed when Showalter got in the studio with producer John Vanderslice – and the results were certainly stellar in their own way – but we’re psyched to hear that the soundscapey early takes on the songs have seen the light of day in Darker Shores, Oaks’ latest EP released to iTunes today. Says Showalter:

Darker Shores is a true sonic journey that my producer Ben Vehorn and I took together. Jumping even further into my love of vintage synthesizers and soundscapes, we mined the epic potential of each song. This is not meant to replace Dark Shores, but rather enhance the overall experience. If you’ve ever seen a Strand of Oaks live show, you know that I’m continually changing and evolving the songs. That same philosophy applies to these songs. Releasing Darker Shores is a source of great personal healing and renewal.

Buy the EP via iTunes here; stream it via Spotify below. Strand of Oaks plays Johnny Brenda’s on Monday, opening for Phosphorescent.