It takes a particular mindset to trade the stages and noise of Los Angeles for the quiet isolation of Landers, California. For Cooper Gillespie and Greg Gordon, that move reshaped their creative process.
As LANDROID, the duo has spent the last several years transforming traditional rock songwriting into expansive arrangements that mirror the vast desert environment they now call home.
With their latest release, “Constellation,” they are delivering a cinematic record that weaves together ancient mythology and deeply personal reflections. Anchored by Gordon’s steady drumming and the complementary vocal performances of Gillespie and Joshua Tree collaborator Nigel Roman, the album explores themes of family history, identity, and a search for meaning beyond the everyday.
The project opens with “The Beginning,” immediately establishing the band’s perspective and distinctive songwriting style. It flows naturally into “Autonomous,” a stripped-back piece built around acoustic guitar and introspective lyricism, with the vocals carrying much of its emotional weight.
The mood shifts dramatically with “Stay,” one of the album’s standout moments, pairing sweeping soundscapes with haunting vocal textures to create a striking sense of scale. “Say My Name” takes the record in a different direction, blending electronic textures with melodic pop to introduce a subtle layer of intrigue and tension.
As the record progresses, its pacing remains fluid and unpredictable. “Nine Moons” unfolds at a measured pace, capturing a reflective mood that seems suspended between memory and longing. The band shifts course again on “When You Close Your Eyes,” moving away from the electronic textures in favor of a blend of roots influences and indie rock sensibilities.
Isolation becomes a central theme on “Lost In Transmission,” where the music evokes the feeling of drifting through an empty galaxy, left alone with your thoughts. On “Hank The Dragon,” the band ventures beyond its familiar territory, delivering one of the record’s most intense and adventurous performances.
The album’s closing stretch embraces its most unconventional ideas. “Sometimes” carries a distinctly Lynchian quality, evoking the surreal atmosphere of Twin Peaks through its dreamlike and unsettling character. It transitions into “Remnant of a Song from Deep Space,” a brief interlude that leaves a lasting emotional impression despite its short runtime. The album concludes with “The Ending,” building naturally from the previous track before erupting into a powerful and energetic finale. LANDROID closes the album with confidence, bringing its ambitious narrative arc to a satisfying conclusion.
To bring these songs to a live audience, LANDROID is preparing to embark on The Constellation Tour. The run begins with a hometown album release show at Art Queen in Joshua Tree on June 13, followed by an appearance at The Redwood in Los Angeles the following night. From there, the band heads into the Pacific Northwest for a series of mid-June dates, including stops in Bend and Add-a-Ball in Seattle, as well as several collaborative performances with Batnap across Olympia, Yakima, Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis. LANDROID then returns to California to close out the month with shows in Sacramento and San Francisco, before wrapping up in Atascadero.
Get your tix to The Constellation Tour this June!
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