Lord Huron The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
Since its inception in 2010, Lord Huron has been the vessel for Ben Schneider’s cinematic vision—an ever-expanding universe of sound and story that draws from folk, rock, ambient, and dream pop. What began as a solo project evolved into a full band known for crafting immersive albums that blur the lines between music and mythology. Whether exploring ghost stories, time travel, or Western landscapes, their work is always grounded in something deeply human: the ache of longing, the shadow of solitude, and the search for meaning in the great unknown.
From the beginning, Lord Huron’s music has felt like a soundtrack for lost souls wandering in liminal spaces. Their sonic world is filled with dusty highways, crackling radios, and voices carried on the wind—an emotional landscape where memory and imagination collide. The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 continues that tradition with a sense of maturity and exploration, expanding their sound into something even more atmospheric and introspective.
One of the album’s emotional anchors is “Is There Anybody Out There,” a song that captures the yearning for connection across time and distance. It’s rich with the band’s trademark reverb-drenched guitar tones and spacey textures, conjuring the feeling of calling into the void and hoping for a reply. Schneider’s vocals balance fragility and hope, making the listener feel like a fellow traveler drifting through cosmic dust.
“Bag of Bones” takes a more ghostly, earthbound approach. With its rugged acoustic rhythm and layered harmonies, the song sounds like a haunted campfire tune. Its lyrics carry the weight of regret and weariness, yet they’re delivered with a poetic grace that makes the sadness feel strangely beautiful. It’s a standout moment of grit and vulnerability.
“Nothing I Need” serves as a meditation on letting go. Sparse and restrained, it floats on ambient textures and hushed vocals, offering a moment of inward reflection. The lyrics reflect a quiet revelation—that in the end, what we carry may be more burden than blessing. It’s a song that invites stillness, asking the listener to sit with the silence.
“The Comedian” blends surrealism with melancholy to explore the pain of fame lost. Its eerie instrumentation evokes a faded spotlight, flickering applause, and memories of a life once adored. Rather than hiding pain, the song mourns a past identity that no longer holds power—a former star caught in the echo of their own laugh track. It’s haunting, bittersweet, and emotionally rich.
With “Used To Know,” the band taps into its nostalgic core. It’s a heartland ballad about the people and places we leave behind, but never truly forget. The melody is simple, even familiar—but that’s part of its charm. It feels like a memory set to music.
“Watch Me Go” provides one of the album’s most uplifting moments, a wide-eyed anthem of departure and transformation. There’s a confidence in its rhythm and a sense of movement in its lyrics that suggests forward momentum without losing the reflective core that defines Lord Huron’s sound.
The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 fits seamlessly into Lord Huron’s catalog, but it stands out like a photograph with the contrast turned up—familiar shapes and shadows, but with sharper lines, deeper blacks, and more brilliant flashes of light. It’s a slightly heightened version of the world we’ve come to know from them, and one that lingers long after the last note fades.
Lord Huron doesn’t just make music—they build worlds. And this one, like the best of their work, invites you to get lost.
Find the music here: https://store.lordhuron.com/collections/music
Check out tour dates here: https://www.lordhuron.com/tour/#/
The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 was produced by Ben Schneider and Matthew Neighbour, with additional production by Mark Barry, Rob Bisel, Jay Joyce and Ben Tolliday; engineered by Neighbour, Barry, Schneider, Tolliday, Jason Hall, Bobby Loudon and Amadeo Pace; mixed by Joyce, Hall, Neighbour, Lars Stalfors and Hamish Patrick; and mastered by Ruairi O’Flaherty, Greg Calb and Steve Fallonei. All songs were written by Schneider. Lord Hurn is Schneider, Mark Barry, Miguel Briseno and Tom Renaud. Additional musicians include Tyler Cash (piano, keyboards), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion), Jedd Hughes (acoustic guitar), Micah Hulscher (organ), Jay Joyce (electric guitar, synths, percussion), Joel King (bass guitar), Todd Lombardo (banjo, acoustic guitar), Kazu Makino (featured vocals), Gabe Noel (bass guitar), Russ Pahl (steel guitar), Sacha Schneider (piano), Kristen Stewart (featured vocals), Mason Stoops (guitar), Adam Tressler (nylon guitar, electric guitar), Ben Tolliday (cello), Joey Waronker (additional drums) and Spencer Zahn (upright bass). Stockholm Studio Orchestra was conducted by Erik Arvinder and recorded and engineered by Arvinder and Willem Bleeker.
