Whiles

Whiles

Mercury Ghost

Anyway

From 2012-2016 The Whiles huddled together when they could, between having babies, returning to graduate school, and living in different cities the recording process was slow and deliberate. Primary songwriter Joe Peppercorn has always had a singular focus to his music, taking things slow until he feels the sound is what he is exactly hearing in his head, in simple terms he is a perfectionist. This has helped The Whiles create some of the most distinctive music out of Columbus, Ohio with All Music comparing their debut (“Colors of The Year”, 4/5 stars) to Nick Drake while Insound likened their ornate sound to Colin Blunstone. In 2016 The Whiles released “Mercury Ghost” the four-years in the making follow-up to the well-received “Somber Honey.” The record was scheduled to be released on vinyl and CD on Anyway Records through Revolver USA. Then, suddenly on the eve of the release Joe put the records in his basement and the record sat dormant until now. After several years of coaxing by Anyway Records head, Bela Koe-Krompecher—Joe has decided to have the record see a formal release. Columbus, Ohio doesn’t have the Pacific Ocean to throw the entire tapes of an amazing album in, but we do have basements so Joe did what many a conflicted songwriter does, he chucked the records in the basement until now. The reward is worth the wait.

Whiles

Somber Honey

Anyway

The Whiles’ Somber Honey weaves a five-year track through the interruptions of adulthood, doubts and uncertainty—somewhat like the history of the band itself. Formed shortly after graduation from high school in the late ’90s, The Whiles have persevered through friendship, death, and the birth of children.  Built around the strong songwriting of Joe Peppercorn, The Whiles’ construct songs that, at times, have taken years to finish (“Somber Honey” went through four different recording sessions). At one point in their career, they appeared to be the indie band to break out of Columbus, with press coming from Rolling Stone and Paste and a tours planned with The National, Andrew Bird, and My Morning Jacket. The curse of 614 entered and a member quit, thus putting the brakes on the group. After the release of 2007’s Sleeper’s Wake, they collectively retreated to careers, family and the recording studio. Somber Honey displays Peppercorn’s strong sense of melody and sharp song craft, with orchestral arrangements courtesy of violinist Samantha Kim (Ghost Shirt). The album recalls hints of Colin Blunstone’s finest work, Eric Matthews and the pop sensibilities of Tommy Keene, early Cat Stevens and The Byrds. Limited to 300 hand-screened LPs with download included, Somber Honey is as majestic as the sun cutting through the gray Midwestern din of February. The Whiles will play select dates in support of the album’s release.

Whiles

Sleeper’s Wake

Anyway

***A brand new album from Columbus, Ohio’s THE WHILES, and the awaited follow-up to the group’s Colors of the Year album. Several years in the making, it is a wonderful lilting record that is just a genuine pleasure to take in.

Whiles

Colors Of The Year

Anyway

***Hailing from the heart of the Midwest, The Whiles (formerly known as Mrs. Children) eschew the punk rock and lo-fi sounds for which “Cowlumbus” has been more (in)famously known, in favor of a softer approach that reflects the sound of the seasons. Taking their cues from the spiritual side of their collective hearts (principal songwriter Joe Peppercorn is a professional organ player and Latin teacher) Colors of the Year touches on the gentler side of love and longing, with wonderful threepart harmonies, distant echoes of Nick Drake, Zombies and Eric Anderson, and neo-old-fangled sounds such as Belle and Sebastian, Ron Sexsmith and The Smiths — all meshed into their own wonderful noise. Self-produced with some engineering duties by Jon Chinn (New Bomb Turks), Colors of the Year is a great leap forward from their self-released EP Break Your Back, which garnered a mention in Rolling Stone’s “Ten Most Rocking College Towns” issue. Their demo at that time landed them on the cover of Columbus Alive and they have managed to create a fairly rabid following in the Midwest. The band formed in 1998 by high school classmates, but it wasn’t until brother Matt Peppercorn joined that Joe felt the musical strings loosen and made the epic leap into the breathtaking songwriter he now is — another voice of the Y generation — no props, no gimmicks, no screaming.