Philly coldwave duo Blanketflowers has all the Stranger Things vibes you crave for autumn of 2020

This year has brimmed with fear, sorrow, and uncertainty off the jump, and now we find ourselves in autumn, the season that embodies those emotions the most. Which means that this autumn — with its dim skies, brisk air, pandemic anxiety, and electoral malaise — feels particularly pronounced. And the arrival of new Philadelphia coldwave / dreampop duo Blanketflowers feels right on time.

After debuting this spring with the single “Losers,” the band — fronted by Ashley Tryba, who we previously saw in the cathartic punk trio Fake Boyfriend, in collaboration with her partner Mikey — spent the ensuing months recording and refining their breathtaking new single “Dark for Days.” The title track and its b-side “Shaking In My Bones” take cues from Chromatics and mid-80s Cure, Slowdive and S U R V I V E. If your 2020 state of mind is an amplified version of Stranger Things’ many moods, Blanketflowers could be your soundtrack.

The two songs lyrically detail drowning in emotion, experiencing loss, and seeking distraction from pain — all very contemporary topics. But they cover this ground beautifully, with radiant synthesizer leads and expansive rhythms, Tryba’s soaring voice taking center stage on the opener, and sharing duet space on the b-side.

Listen below, and follow the band on Instagram for more on their own music, as well as the musical organizations (like Girls Rock Philly) that they support.