They Travel at Night Premiere Their Debut EP ‘Entropy’

Alternative duo They Travel at Night, made up of Chuck Howard and Lou Scanlon, reveal their debut EP, Entropy, which in turn divulges their engaging sound, a fusion of eclectic electronic structures cossetted in gossamer pop textures and shimmering hues.

They Travel at Night seeks to create musical moments comprising unexpected subtle dynamics that build up, transition, and then balance out. Put simply, They Travel at Night wants to make music that makes whatever you’re doing feel cooler.

Both Howard and Scanlon have been involved with various bands and projects in Detroit since the early ‘000s. Their tastes overlap but are different enough to prompt something fresh. They are willing to try anything, and that fearlessness establishes an experimental environment conducive to creativity.

Entropy features five tracks, opening with “Go On,” a dreamy, almost kaleidoscopic amalgam of synth-pop and pop flavors suffused by hints of shoegaze. On one level, the tune suggests Emerson, Lake & Palmer; on another level, there’s a murky, new-wave feel to the harmonics.

“We’re watching for you at the door now. / We’re waiting for you on the porch now. / We’re waiting for you in the garden.”

Subjectively, entry points include “Moment,” riding tight percussion, and flickering surfaces. The combination of melody and vocal timbres conjures up intimations of The Alan Parsons Project performing a Howard Jones song.

The gentle vocal savors of “Into It” imbue the lyrics with the lush crooning veneers of the Beach Boys. Yet the analogy stops there because of the glittering, creamy, electro-pop flow of the melody.

An instrumental, the final track on the EP, entitled “Colors,” juxtaposes heavier, darker tones against a sparkling topline, bathing the tune in intoxicating layers of gliding tessellations. Sidestepping the trap of narrow focus, Entropy encloses a vast, immersive milieu, one pervaded by arcing melodies and precise arrangements.

Entropy Track Listing:

1. Go On
2. Fare Thee Well
3. Moment
4. Into It
5. Colors

They Travel at Night ‘Entropy’ EP album artwork