Australian indie royalty, Fremantle’s San Cisco offer up their fifth studio album, ‘Under The Light’ (via Island City Records), and in turn announce an 11-date regional tour throughout May that covers a good chunk of QLD and a few NSW dates to boot. 

 Like tears on New Year's Eve catching the glitter of fireworks at midnight, San Cisco’s fifth LP, ‘Under The Light’, strikes the delicate balance between euphoria and melancholy that elevates the best pop music from a good time to something more like a cherished friend. ‘Under The Light’ sees the trio enter a new phase of maturity, vulnerability and experimentation both musically and lyrically - a record the band are proud to say “truly embodies the genuine essence of San Cisco.”

In ‘Under The Light’ San Cisco summon shimmery, melodious pop that interweaves a nostalgic ride with sprinkles of indie sensibilities. The Fremantle trio stretch their musical horizons, reaching into pop-fused drum-n-bass, Britpop, harmonious yacht rock, and dive into disco, defying any pigeon-holing. ‘Under The Light’ is ridiculously gorgeous, slick and downright fun stuff from San Cisco.

Featuring recent singles ‘Lost Without You’, ‘Horoscope’, ‘Honeycomb’, ‘High', ‘Summer Days’ and album title track ‘Under The Light’, the three-piece have entered decidedly more heady territory, both musically and lyrically, introducing elements such as string sections, electronic, garage and house music. Arguably the most dance floor ready track of the record if not the band’s discography, album focus track ‘Consequence’ is a perfect example of the new territories the band have explored on this record.  

“It used to be more turbo, but we dialled it back” the band joke. In classic San Cisco form, ‘Consequence’ balances an upbeat, dance-y melody with incredibly introspective, emotional lyricism. On the meaning of the song, San Cisco explain “There are people that move through life like a wrecking ball. Complete disregard for the damage they inflict to the people they hold close. No amount of attention will fill their cup all the while they are sucking yours dry. When and where do you set the boundary and choose to prioritize your own happiness? It’s never easy to make the call when you find yourself moonlighting as an emotional boxing bag for someone you love.”

Spending the majority of 2023 deep in studio sessions split between LA and Fremantle, Under The Light is a collaborative work with producer James Ireland (Pond, Cuco) and mixed by Grammy award winning engineer Neal H. Pogue (Steve Lacy, Tyler The Creator, Outkast) and Anthony Dolhai (Mø, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kesha), and features collaborations with Tame Impala & POND members Jay Watson and Nicholas Allbrook.  

“Collaborating with our close friend and producer, James Ireland, was an exciting and fresh journey that allowed us to fully actualise our musical aspirations. The album was predominantly written and recorded in our studio, kitchens, and living rooms at home in Fremantle” the band explain.“This unique experience was unlike anything we've undertaken before, and we couldn't be prouder of this body of work.”

‘Under The Light’ is the sound of a beloved bastion of indie-pop emerging, growing, and contorting as they explore new collaborations, instrumentation, and songwriting techniques. Thematically, the album title could just as well be referring to the endless blue of a West Australian summer as a dentist's chair or interrogation room, as we see the band more emotionally exposed than ever before. Face to face with the cruelty of a changing world, San Cisco searches for meaning, stares down the moral ambiguities of adulthood and relationships, and sings a sun-speckled song to human kindness.

Under The Light, the fifth studio album from San Cisco is out now everywhere via Island City Records.