The new EP from local four-piece Raener is a big deal. It came together a few months ago at a serene beach house in Santa Barbara. This was after, according to my calculation, the band–consisting of Daniel Fox, Will van Boldrik, Zach Bilson, and Daniel Vanchieri–had played every single intimate venue in the city, and just before they departed on a short tour with Fictionist. Back then, Raener only had a few songs to their name, and though they had a common denominator in their spacey synths, they felt disjointed. The band’s first unified release comes in have you been here before, comprised of four tracks of atmospheric contemplation which you can hear exclusively below.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#FF78FF” class=”fistclass” size=”15″] “While the songs were primarily recorded in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, they are a snapshot from a year when everything was changing drastically. From graduating, to the dissolve of relationships, to our dependence on technology, to the strange turn the worlds seemed to take, these songs served as a coping mechanism to the information we’re constantly being bombarded with.” – Daniel Fox, lead singer   [/perfectpullquote]

Often this type of alt rock sound gets compared to a certain English rock band that is revered by some and appreciated by most. Given how the melodies on this EP endure, they work together in a sense, completing a satisfying sonic narrative. The vocals also take on a distinct role in the songs, especially in “Howard County,” where Fox’s passion spills out immediately. The opening track, “No Sun,” changes incrementally until a massive crescendo wakes you from your daze. The closing track has a similar effect, but “NYC” never reaches such a climax, simply tapering off into silence. Luckily Fox promises: “The EP serves as a glimpse of a much larger body of work soon to come.”

Listen to have you been here before below.

For more information on Raener, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Raener is going on tour with Beach Fossils very soon, find a full list of dates here; they aren’t playing in LA on this route, but they live here, so they’ll be back soon.