“Western Leaves,” the three-track single from Vespen, is atmospheric, dense, and emotionally textured and an ambient slow-burn that builds. There’s a chill, lo-fi undercurrent running through all three songs and further, their artistry. Track titles like “We had not been given perfection nor symmetry pt.1” and pt.2 suggest a deeper concept, and it feels like Vespen is inviting us into something intimate.
Vespen is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and their sound feels shaped by their background, spacious, cold in tone, but warm in heart. Described as ambient, alternative, shoegaze, and lo-fi, the project blends genres with an ease that makes it hard to pin down. “Western Leaves” is a preview of the upcoming album Providence. This music is multi-hyphenate; for quiet mornings, long late-night drives, and people like me who enjoy full listens.
The music feels nostalgic yet fresh, drawing from shoegaze and slowcore to create something uniquely meditative. A track like “We’d not been given perfection, nor symmetry, pt.2” clocks in at 5:38, and while that length could easily falter, Vespen makes it work. The entire single is layered with intention and direction.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
