Pareidolia

Pareidolia is an alternative band from Latvia, formed in late 2009. The original founders are guitarist Eugene and vocalist Kessie. The band records and performs in changing line-ups, with musicians and visual accompaniment being replaced frequently so that the focus stays on the music itself.

Early activity

The first two songs are recorded in autumn 2010. The band then gives its first performance at Cosplay Con 3 in Riga. It continues to appear at different events until summer 2011, after which some members leave and the group breaks up. Pareidolia reforms in autumn 2011 and begins working on new songs, including the single “Stolen Life”.

Sound and releases

Pareidolia’s music moves from alternative rock towards hardcore, and the band is also associated with grunge, shoegaze and female-vocalist alternative rock. Its first album, Glow, presents a story told through the eyes of an anonymous narrator. The lyrics are printed in the CD booklet rather than sung on the record, leaving room for the listener to interpret the story and connect with the material in a more personal way. The album is described as functioning more like a soundtrack to life than as a conventional ambient or experimental release.

Approach

The project is presented as music built from strings, horns, guitars and computers, with the emphasis on creating a feeling rather than a conventional song structure. This approach, along with the shifting personnel and visual presentation, defines Pareidolia’s identity.