The Faraway Places

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The Faraway Places have arrived, bearing musical riches that deftly blend Motown rhythm, Lou Reed guitar, and blown-out moog-styled synths. The sound is as earnest as it is eclectic, reflecting an obsession not only with music, but also with the exuberant natural beauty found amid the tumble-down hillsides of their Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The locale and lineup have changed over the years, but the core remains the same. Keyboardist/singer/chef Donna Coppola and writer/producer/Renaissance man Chris Colthart have been the constants in the lineup. The soulful psychedelia of the ‘60s and the experimental reveries of German avant rockers Can have been a constant sonic inspiration, even as the group has turned those influences inside out.

First formed as The Solar Saturday in Boston in 1997, this early incarnation released demos adored by fans of smart experimental pop. During that time, Colthart and Coppola cut their teeth as members of Papas Fritas on that band’s final tours of Europe and the U.S., absorbing a good dose of the song craft and live energy for which that band was celebrated. Tony Goddess and Keith Gendel from Papas Fritas remain close friends and collaborators.