Thus far, Airiel’s return to fully active duty has consisted of archival releases – the Winks & Kisses EP box set was re-released last year for its 20th anniversary, and their second album Molten Young Lovers given a deluxe reissue this year – and a lot of touring behind said releases. All of which is great, but new music has been hard to come by. One new song, “Bloom”, came out in September 2020 and was supposed to precede a new EP but that never materialized.

Now, they’ve put out another new song, though this doesn’t come with any promises beyond a euphoric sequencer hook and good vibes. Says the band of the new track:

“Hide & Seek” explores the fleeting nature of young love, chasing moments of light and joy before they slip away. Frontman Jeremy Wrenn’s hazy, ethereal vocals soar above the swirling instrumentation, evoking a sense of longing, hope, and nostalgia. The band’s signature mix of lush textures takes on new life here, as the song builds to an unexpected crescendo — a powerful taiko drum rhythm layered with the subtle elegance of a grand piano. This cinematic finale underscores the epic studio production that Airiel has crafted.

Airiel – “Hide & Seek” @ Bandcamp