Hot Horizons

Hot Horizons

Hot Horizons are a Leicester group made up of brothers Jake McCarthy and Rory McCarthy, together with three musician friends. They form in 2009, initially with an idea of making synth-pop in the style of Hurts, with Auto-Tuned vocals, before moving towards a sound built around harmonies and electronic effects.

Style and development

The group move away from the rougher guitar approach associated with other Leicester acts and develop a lo-fi, melodic style. Jake McCarthy takes influence from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, while Rory McCarthy draws on dub and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and has played in bands with members of Egyptian Hip Hop. Their music also reflects older pop and psychedelic influences, including the Beach Boys, Fleet Foxes and King Tubby.

Recordings

Hot Horizons record an EP in Rory McCarthy’s bedroom, which the band call Dick Ark. The group also record a version of Roy Orbison’s Crying, a song that suits Jake McCarthy’s vocal style. Other tracks associated with the band include All of This, Shulgin and The Joiner’s Arms, which continue their blend of electronic and pastoral elements.