Back in the early ’70s, the great rock poet Robert Plant noted that “there’s a feeling” he gets when he “look(s) to the west”, and many here in New England have echoed those sentiments, particularly towards California, in the decades that followed. For some it could be a sense of embracing the unknown in order to realize their hopes and dreams, while for others it could be a simple desire to escape our cold and miserable winters.
Radio Compass’ new single “California”, released exactly a month ago (October 13), channels the loose sentiment of the former, but without necessarily the need to rent a U-Hall and GTFO of here. Leaning into a more post-punk and dream-pop sound than the Salem band’s pandemic project album Aloha, the hypnotic “California” reflects on different realities that examine, as Radio Compass put it, what could have been, what is, and what can be. And within that, sometimes we need to go; and other times we need to stay put.
“‘California’ is a song about trusting your path, being open to endless possibilities, owning your shine (and periodic chaos) and refusing to allow others to dull it,” says Angela Lee.
And so Radio Compass’ latest is also a song about faith in one’s self, and embracing possibilities and forging a path ahead to make the most of them — and even embracing uncertainty, because those tempting possibilities never mean anything without a person’s self-confidence. In gazing out towards “California,” from any physical viewpoint, Radio Compass are actually looking inward towards themselves. And this path sounds oh so very nice.