Led by frontman Bradford Bucknum, Philadelphia, PA-based indie rock quartet Oldermost’s debut single “Honey With Tea” manages to sound as though it were indebted to Nick Drake, Wish You Were Here-era Pink Floyd and 70s AM radio friendly rock as layers of twangy pedal guitar, shimmering electric guitar chords, propulsive drumming, a lush and shimmering string arrangement are paired with Bucknam’s plaintive and tender crooning and up-and-coming Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Rosali’s ethereal yet tender backing vocals in one of the prettier songs I’ve heard this year. And although “Honey With Tea” sounds quite a bit like Psychic Ills‘ equally gorgeous “Baby,” and possesses the sort of lived-in feel that can only come from actual life experiences, the Philadelphia-based quartet’s debut single manages to possess a world weariness behind its psychedelic country leanings. In some way, the song evokes life’s bitter recognitions, uneasy compromises and uncertainties — and how frequently we have to grit our teeth and accept what is and move forward.
