RARE BREW REVIEWS
By Rebecca Cullen
Long-time favourites Suris once again refuse to disappoint, releasing perhaps their most addictively interesting, melodically enchanting project yet.
The album Rare Brew showcases the UK-based duo at their very best, and promises a lasting collection of songs that continuously raise the bar for expressive, purposeful and alluring writing.
Astrosurf makes for a brilliant opener. A little Kate Bush-esque in tone and the contrast from delicacy to passion, the piano inflections, the melody and story.
Impact is maximised as the piece evolves, intriguing with its imagery and implications along the way. Even the subtle shifts from brightness to melancholy work well to keep things creative and fresh. The drama and pace of that middle-8 shift is also really well-crafted in furthering the uplift of the final section.
Shifting gears immediately is the follow-up This Is The City – dark and stylish, vocally gritty and captivating for imagery and short-lined progressions alike; easily memorable, catchy, and resolving beautifully for that chorus. ‘Walk don’t run’ resounds perfectly and quickly lures you in for a sing along.
Unexpected as ever, Suris lay the foundation for a consistently impressive, fearlessly original album, with songwriting as a clear strength but creative freedom and experimentation no doubt closely intertwined.
Things mellow out somewhat for Great Wide Open, and all the more so for a sultry Big Ship. Fleetwood Mac-esque as before, perhaps with hints of The Pretenders, yet still more notably rooted amidst the Suris sound and catalogue of artistry. Always these eighties rhythms and reverb-kissed vocals, the depths and the vastness, feels true to the band – alongside their uniquely expressive, fascinating writing.
Highlights include the piano-led story and heartfelt, empowering beauty of Hellion, a personal favourite, and the seductive rise and fall of an intimate and romantic Riverman; again evolving from simplicity to fullness in compelling waves of embrace.
Juxtaposition is also masterfully utilised throughout, Warrior Queen proving a fine example – from haunting minimalism to theatrical intensity and passionate, powerful rock presence.
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And as a closer, All Over Again is stunning – melodically quirky, simple, stylish, lyrically profound and inspiring – a song that rightfully leaves a lingering sense of contemplation, hopefully prompting stronger appreciation for the moment and the time that we have left. Another favourite, and the perfect way to end.
Musically supreme, endlessly original, gifting a sense of escapism and soul from the outset but later, on revisit, offering more and more lyrical insight and inspiration; complexities that reach out with increasing warmth each time you return.
The whole thing is superb, in short. Easily one of the best, most refreshing albums of the year thus far. Some threads remain to be discovered, the overall concept of Rare Brew to the details and poetry of the lyrics perhaps. Fortunately though, the music is a dream to listen to, so revisiting is a pleasure. Enjoy.
By Ian Ureta of Alte Magazine
Ultimately, Rare Brew Isn’t About Nostalgia So Much as Endurance
With recent album 'Pertinax', Suris made a record that was almost embarrassingly earnest. It didn’t wink at you. It didn’t sound like it was written by a committee trying to forecast next week’s Spotify trend. It just existed, lush and vulnerable, the sound of two people who actually cared. The result felt old-fashioned in the best way: proof that sincerity can still be punk if you mean it.
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Now, with Rare Brew, the Mackies return; not with a sequel, but something closer to an anthology. It’s a re-release of the songs that have lingered in their catalogue for years, now remastered with the kind of attention only artists who’ve lived inside their own work can give. It’s an album about growth, but not the measurable kind. Think of it as a retrospective filtered through time, emotion, and sharper mastering tools.
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If Pertinax was about resilience and holding on when everything’s collapsing, Rare Brew is about reflection: looking back at what you made and realizing it still matters. The title isn’t subtle, and that’s the point. This is an album that knows it’s an acquired taste and refuses to apologize for it.
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The opener, “Astrosurf,” sounds like a hymn for people who no longer believe but still miss the feeling. It’s baroque-pop in the Kate Bush sense; grand, theatrical, and just weird enough to be funny. There’s a gospel undertone beneath the synths, a ghostly choir humming from another room. Lindsey’s vocals hover between prayer and performance, while Dave builds a soundscape that feels both ancient and digital; like Fleetwood Mac discovering MIDI in the Renaissance. It’s a dense, intoxicating first sip.
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Then comes “This Is The City,” the musical equivalent of a perfectly tailored coat hiding pockets full of anxiety. On the surface, it’s smooth; sophisti-pop chords, funk guitars that would make early Maroon 5 jealous, but underneath, something’s twitching. It’s the sound of modernity with a hangover. The production feels lived-in, like walking through a city you know too well, where even the streetlights seem tired.
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“Great Wide Open” is where Rare Brew hits its theatrical stride. Imagine Björk producing Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” after reading too much eco-philosophy. The song builds and breaks like a wave, all reverb and revelation, leaving you suspended in a wash of sound that feels like an ending you didn’t see coming. It’s cinematic, but not in the “look, we’ve got strings!” sense. It’s big because it believes it’s allowed to be.
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After that widescreen moment, “Scaur Bank” brings things back to intimacy. Piano, voice, and the kind of lyricism that doesn’t bother to explain itself. Lindsey sings like she’s thinking out loud, and Dave’s guitar replies like an old friend who knows when to fill the silence. It’s small in scale but huge in feeling; the kind of song that sneaks up on you three listens later and stays there.
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By “Absolute Zero,” the album’s quiet rebellion fully lands. It plays like a love letter to Fleetwood Mac written by people who understood the sadness behind the California sheen. The melody feels familiar, like something you’ve half-remembered from another life, but the production resists nostalgia; minor chords that never quite resolve, harmonies slightly out of focus. It’s the sound of watching a home movie and realizing you don’t remember being that happy.
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And then there’s “Last Fish In The Sea.” Playful melody, aquatic imagery, whimsy on the surface, but listen closely and it’s heartbreak in disguise. Imagine Stevie Nicks singing “Part of Your World” after reading too much climate science. The track feels like a fairy tale drowning in its own metaphor. Lindsey’s voice carries the ache of someone who still wants to believe in magic but knows it’s probably gone extinct. It’s quietly devastating.
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The closer, “All Over Again,” ties it all together with cruel symmetry. Jangle-pop wrapped around melancholy; a deceptively upbeat song about emotional recursion, about making the same mistakes because they’re the ones that still feel real. The guitars shimmer, the rhythm sways, and just as catharsis approaches, it ends; not abruptly, but like someone turning off the light mid-sentence. It’s not despair; it’s restraint.
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What makes Rare Brew special isn’t just the songwriting or polish; it’s the refusal to pretend. You can hear the years in these recordings: the imperfections, the moments where emotion beats technique, the sense that these songs were made because they had to be. Every track carries fingerprints.
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Where Pertinax was about standing firm, Rare Brew is about what follows; the quiet confidence of artists who no longer need to prove anything. The Mackies aren’t chasing relevance; they’re documenting a process. You can hear the dialogue between their past and present selves in every mix, every newly opened frequency range.
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Dave’s remastering doesn’t sanitize the recordings; it reveals their bones. The mix has air, depth, time. Lindsey’s rich, textured, unmistakably human voice sits at the center, not as performance but as presence. It’s as if the album itself is breathing again.
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Ultimately, Rare Brew isn’t about nostalgia so much as endurance. While everyone else is busy making clever music about detachment, Suris are writing songs about feeling too much and meaning it. That’s the trick of Rare Brew. It’s not rare because it’s hard to find. It’s rare because it’s honest.​
By Plastic Magazine
Suris is the creative union of Lindsey and David Mackie, a UK-based duo whose music floats somewhere between the ethereal and the emotive. Together, they create musical moments that shimmer with atmosphere and meaningful context, blending delicate melodies with reflective lyricism and cinematic aesthetic. With Lindsey’s airy vocals and piano compositions flowing with David’s guitar work and production, their sound feels timeless, wrapped in emotion and forward-thinking in execution.
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Their story stretches back decades, beginning at the University of East Anglia where they first met as students, each already immersed in their own musical worlds. Lindsey was fronting The Clynics, a Siouxsie-meets-Blondie-inspired outfit, while David was playing guitar in the punk band Capitalist Music. Both acts appeared on the local compilation Welcome to Norwich – A Fine City, a foreshadowing of their eventual creative partnership. Starting as two musicians crossing paths at a benefit gig for Vietnamese boat people soon flourished into a lifelong collaboration built on shared vision, experimentation and a mutual understanding of music as a form of emotional expression.
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Suris has since become the vessel for their joint sonic output, taking inspirations from artists such as Imogen Heap and Kate Bush to Portishead, Massive Attack and Radiohead. Yet, for all their reference points, Suris remain entirely their own, offering music that balances a grand scale with intimate detail to forge a world that encourages listeners to lose themselves in its layers.
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Since debuting with “Argus” in 2020, the duo have continued to expand their catalogue, capturing the development of their sound across several albums, including the recent Pertinax and the remastered Bonehouse. Now, they return with their latest record titled Rare Brew, a curated collection that revisits and reimagines highlights from their past two decades of work. The album includes twelve recordings from 2005 to 2015, with traces of even earlier sessions from 1992 preserved within some tracks first captured on a Fostex 8-track reel-to-reel tape machine. These early fragments still ripple beneath the new remastered versions, bridging their musical beginnings with the fully formed sound of their present.
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Set up by “Astrosurf,” a dazzling arrangement of warm piano notes and Lindsey’s soulful vocals glide through an atmospheric scene that slips into a gentle groove of tapped percussion and soft basslines to cast a dreamy, vintage pop experience. “This is the City” injects a bouncy rhythm with shuffling drums, smooth guitar textures and expressive vocal performance to craft an energising art rock experience packed full of twists and turns.
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“Great Wide Open” follows with a hazy soundscape of downtempo, pattering percussion and bright instrumental flourishes as Lindsey’s alluring voice floats into to spin elegant melodies above on this personal favourite for the duo. Tracks like “Big Ship,” which was originally released as a single on the Right Recordings imprint, brings a stunning retro vibe that rolls with graceful piano backing and silky vocal leads.
“Warrior Queen” presents an engrossing voyage that begins with an acoustic piano and crescendos into a thunderous clash of synths, guitars and vocals, creating a sonic battle that distils the duo’s fearless adventurous to composition. Another taste from the earlier ambitions comes with the uptempo jam “Vertigo” which flows with disco-tinged energy as intricate piano plinks and twanging guitar chords under pin spectacular vocal leads to deliver a superb classic pop experience.
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Closing the album with “All Over Again,” sweeping vocalisations and a mellow groove combine to serve up an incredible finale of layered vocals and enveloping arrangement. Suris’ music carries echoes of the 80s and 90s and they use those influences as a springboard to something new with Rare Brew capturing decades of musical exploration to deliver an LP that celebrates the duo’s past while carrying their sound forward in the modern era.
By Lock Magazine
Suris toast the past and reforge the present on ‘Rare Brew’
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There’s a particular thrill in listening to artists who have lived several creative lifetimes together. Whose music carries the weathering of years, the strange detours, the false starts, the miracles, and of course, the stubborn devotion. With ‘Rare Brew’, Suris (Lindsey and David Mackie) uncork a time capsule that fizzes with decades of invention, intimacy, and quiet defiance. It’s a breadcrumb trail through the shadowy corners of their world, where elegance and unease dance side-by-side.
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Suris make the kind of music that feels like rummaging through a forgotten attic trunk. Their songs gleam softly at first, but a second listen reveals the knife glint beneath the velvet. Lindsey’s lush, shaded, and startlingly direct voice floats through arrangements that bend toward art-rock mystique, dream-pop haze, and the kind of left-field pop alchemy that defined the late-70s/early-80s avant-garde. Dave’s production grounds it with earthy guitar tones, crisp percussion, and arrangements that unfold organically rather than chase trends.
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‘Rare Brew’ pulls together the tracks that followed the pair through multiple eras, and you can feel the different air of each decade. The earliest pieces carry that hypnotic analogue warmth, the sort of imperfections that now feel luxurious. ‘Big Ship’, re-presented in newly polished form, still has the forward momentum of something setting sail into unknown waters. ‘Vertigo’, too, hums with the electricity of artists stretching toward a sound bigger than the tools they had.
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Then there’s ‘Great Wide Open’, the emotional anchor of the collection. It has the drifting, cosmic loneliness of David Bowie’s early storytelling, yet Lindsey delivers it with a tenderness that feels entirely her own.
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Across the record, you hear their ability to be strangely familiar and entirely singular at once. Echoes of art-rock greats rise and dissolve, hints of dream-pop shimmer at the edges, but everything still feels unmistakably theirs.
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‘Rare Brew’ is a reminder that some of the most compelling music grows outside the spotlight, handcrafted by people whose artistry isn’t fuelled by ego but by instinct and endurance. Suris have spent decades shaping their own universe, and this collection is the clearest window yet into that world.
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It is, in the truest sense, a rare brew: aged, complex, quietly intoxicating, and unmistakably distinct.
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By Gabriel Mazza, Mesmerized Magazine
Suris Highlight Past Singles in Dreamy LP ‘Rare Brew’
‘Rare Brew’ marks our point of entry into Suris’ hypnotic, luscious aural universe. An eclectic British duo, the project sees Lindsey and David Mackie at its helm, with over three decades of activity to date. Having first met as students at the University of East Anglia, the pair soon joined forces as a cohesive duo, even becoming a married couple in real life. In ‘Rare Brew’, the Mackies seek to trace a fine line in their longstanding history, collecting a series of remastered singles originally released between 2005 and 2015. It’s a curated collection of tracks from their previous albums.
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Packing twelve songs, ‘Rare Brew’ gives us an insightful look at Suris’ incredible genre-bending ethos. It’s hard to pinpoint the duo to a precise influence or scene, but overall, there seems to be a constant tension between dreamy pop tones and fiercer indie textures. That same parallel also exists between the bright cinematic soundscapes and the distorted guitars. It’s a push-and-pull between competing forces, which in turn delivers an intense and ethereal listening experience, one that’s both cathartic and energetic.
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Recommended!
By Apricot Magazine
Suris Reclaim Their Sonic Legacy with the Hauntingly Cinematic Anthology Rare Brew
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There are albums that feel like archives and albums that feel like portals. Rare Brew, the newly re-released 12-track collection from Suris, is both at once: a vivid time capsule spanning two decades of creation and an awakening of music that still feels restlessly alive. Out on December 5th, 2025, this curated anthology gathers the duo’s most resonant work from 2005 to 2015, with a few tracks reaching even further back into their earliest studio experiments of the early nineties. Re-mastered, re-imagined, and re-framed for a new era, Rare Brew stands as an intimate portrait of Lindsey and David Mackie’s singular musical world, one defined by atmosphere, subversive storytelling, and a devotion to craft that has endured through every phase of their lives.
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Suris, at their core, are alchemists. Lindsey’s rich and deeply expressive vocals carry the emotional weight of each story, while her piano and keys form the ethereal foundation of the songs. Dave handles guitars, drums, bass, and the intricate production work that turns each track into a fully realized sonic landscape. Together, they create a sound that feels familiar yet uncategorizable, reminiscent of Kate Bush’s theatrical intensity, Radiohead’s emotional abstractions, Lorde’s minimal tension, and the dreamlike haze of Fleetwood Mac’s most atmospheric moments. But Suris are never derivative. Their music glows with its own internal logic, a blend of alt rock, art pop, prog, dream pop, and experimental folk that always hints at something lurking beneath the surface.
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Rare Brew brings together the songs that have followed the band through years of change, evolution, and quiet persistence. Some tracks began life on humble equipment, like the Fostex 8-track reel-to-reel recorder that captured the earliest versions of Big Ship, Vertigo, and All Over Again back in 1992. You can still hear traces of that analog ghost in the remastered versions, subtle remnants of a time when limitations forced creativity rather than restricting it. Suris never erased their past; they built upon it, weaving old threads into new forms while honoring the rawness of their earliest ideas.
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The album’s opening tracks immediately demonstrate Suris at their most atmospheric. Astrosurf drifts like a dream in motion, an introduction to the blend of surreal imagery and emotional depth that defines the record. This Is The City brings sharper edges, a minimal yet melodic exploration of urban life framed like a shifting reflection in a rain-streaked window. Great Wide Open, a personal favorite of the band, strips everything back to its bare essentials. Lindsey’s voice floats over simple chords, evoking the quiet awe of space, isolation, and the vast internal landscapes that mirror our external ones. It carries a Space Oddity glow, nostalgic yet timeless, fragile yet purposeful.
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Then there is Big Ship, one of the most celebrated tracks in the Suris catalog. Once released as a single on the Right Recordings label, it remains a standout, a sweeping piece of alt folk drama infused with the raw energy of its early nineties origin. Its reappearance here is a reminder of the Mackies’ consistency through the years: high emotional stakes, vivid narrative imagery, and compositions that swell with cinematic depth.
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Hellion, another potential single that Suris ultimately withheld due to dissatisfaction with an external master, appears here in a form that finally matches their vision. Atmospheric, tense, and richly orchestrated, Hellion pulses with the subtle menace and emotional ambiguity that Suris do so well. It is a prime example of how their smooth, accessible arrangements always conceal something more shadowed underneath.
Perhaps the most unusual and ambitious track on the album is Warrior Queen, a genre-defying journey that begins with sparse acoustic piano before erupting into a towering synthesis of guitars, synths, and vocal intensity. It feels like a miniature epic, a battle hymn, a challenge to convention. Suris break all the rules here, and it pays off brilliantly.
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Throughout Rare Brew, the stories behind the songs deepen the listening experience. Lindsey and Dave met as students, began their creative partnership during the early years of their marriage, and recorded their first demos with only a four-track cassette recorder. Their band Rare briefly caught the attention of labels like Ensign and Polygram. Lindsey’s win in a Sky-sponsored talent competition brought them early visibility. And just when momentum seemed to gather, real life intervened: the death of a manager, the arrival of children, a shift in priorities that didn’t extinguish their artistic fire but transformed it.
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Rare Brew, then, is not just a collection of songs. It is a testament to what happens when music is not treated as a chase for fame but as a lifelong devotion. Suris have remained self-sufficient and instinctive, unburdened by ego and uninterested in artifice. Their work is shaped by real lives, real partnership, and real persistence.
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Across its twelve tracks, Rare Brew offers nostalgia without dependence, innovation without pretense, and emotion without melodrama. It is a beautifully assembled anthology from a duo who have spent decades refining their voice while refusing to dilute their originality.
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For listeners seeking music that inhabits both light and shadow, softness and subversion, Rare Brew is a rare and rewarding find. Suris bottle something here that feels both ancient and entirely new, a sonic elixir that lingers long after the final notes fade.
By Music Arena
More Than Greatest Hits: The Evolution of Suris on “Rare Brew”
There is something distinctly architectural about the way Suris constructed “Rare Brew,” the latest collection from the husband-and-wife duo Lindsey and David Mackie. While this release bills itself as a curated retrospective remastered for 2025, calling it a “greatest hits” feels like a disservice it is more like wandering through a house where every room operates under a different law of physics.
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You start on the roof, gazing upward. “Astrosurf” doesn’t simply play; it dilates. Lindsey Mackie’s vocals here are breathable oxygen, climbing delay-heavy guitar ladders that remind me of that peculiar sensation you get when you stare at a suspension bridge for too long a majestic sort of dizziness. It captures the terror of finding a new human connection so massive it rearranges your internal gravity. But then, Suris pulls the rug out.
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We tumble from the cosmic expanse of space right into the rain-slicked pavement of “Great Wide Open.” The electronic soul here is damp and gray, smelling faintly of ozone and old coats. It’s a track that demands you sit by a window and watch the condensation drip.
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Just as you settle into the melancholic folk-tinged comfort of “Riverman,” the collection takes a sharp left turn into the frenetic. Tracks like “Absolute Zero” and “All Over Again” abandon the safety of art rock for the strobe-lit urgency of Jungle and Drum and Bass. It’s a jarring shift, yet it works. It reminds me of the chaotic mental arithmetic one does while trying to navigate a subway system at rush hour the need to reclaim autonomy, as “Absolute Zero” suggests, is rarely a quiet affair. It is fast, cold, and strictly rhythmical.
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David Mackie’s production shines in these heavier, darker moments. On “Hellion,” the soundscape turns submerged and thick, like moving through molasses or deep ocean currents. It invokes a primal, aquatic regression that made me think of the evolutionary diagrams I stared at in fifth grade, wondering at what point we decided to crawl out of the mud.
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“Big Ship” and “Warrior Queen” showcase the duo’s knack for the grandiose, channeling that Kate Bush theatrics where emotion is too big for a normal voice. The former, dealing with the fierce love for a wild daughter, crashes with the energy of a storm held in a teacup.
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This isn’t background music. It is a strange, shifting beast that refuses to sit still. “Rare Brew” asks you to accept that a driving house beat on “Last Fish in the Sea” can coexist with the regal orchestral sweeps of “Scaur Bank.” It suggests that a single human life is both a neon-lit rave and a quiet, rainy afternoon.
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Do we ever really finish a conversation with our past selves, or do we just remaster the tape?
By Mike Mineo
Excelling with a dynamic, often dreamy art-pop and rock sound, Rare Brew is another standout showing from Suris. Last month, we featured their stellar new album Pertinax, and now this re-release collects standout tracks showcasing the duo’s tendency for masterful productions, from ethereal piano-led introspection to electrified rock grooves.
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Dreamy piano and resonant vocals open the album on “Astroturf,” exuding an otherworldly, starry-eyed ambition as space-minded references move with lush allure. “It was you,” the vocals let out during an especially magnetic sequence, bolstered by gorgeous reflective harmonies as the piano work mingles with textured electronics. The project’s knack for emotive songcraft and riveting soundscapes is abundant throughout, and “Astroturf” makes that quickly apparent. The ensuing “This is the City” moves with a more debonair rock drive, with a title-bearing declaration — to “burn out the fever” — combining with fervent electric guitar tones and sturdy rhythmic pulse.
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Another standout track, “Great Wide Open” enthralls with its mystique-filled production — weaving serene keys/bells and “jungle takes over” lyrical artfulness, into a caressing “long way to go, to reach the great wide open” central chorus. The aesthetic reminds blissfully of a cross between Talk Talk and Kate Bush, channeling an ’80s art-pop charm in its atmospheric prowess and consuming vocal presence.
From the string-laden heights of “Hellion” to stomping sophisti-pop chiller “Last Fish in the Sea,” the second half of the album continues to invigorate with fantastic songwriting and productions. Rare Brew is a can’t-miss listen from Suris.
By The Indie Grid
‘Rare Brew’- Suris, a time-bending anthology of art-rock alchemy
Suris’ new anthology ‘Rare Brew’ bursts open like a cabinet of long-shelved potions, each track fizzing with imagination, danger, and sheer creative nerve. This new release is a lightning bolt across decades, proving Lindsey and David Mackie have been crafting their own strange, beautiful universe long before most of us knew we needed it.
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From the first notes of ‘Astroturf’, ‘Rare Brew’ radiates the duo’s unmistakable alchemy of Lindsey’s rich, expressive vocals gliding over Dave’s shapeshifting arrangements with exhilarating precision. Their partnership is electric. You can hear their shared history, their instincts dovetailing like two halves of a single idea, finishing each other’s melodic sentences in ways that feel almost telepathic.
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The highlight ‘Big Ship’ rolls in like a spectral tide, still carrying the analogue ghosts of its early-’90s cassette origins yet blooming into widescreen, cinematic power under modern remastering. While ‘Great Wide Open’ strips everything back to breath and pulse, delivering a gorgeous, space-lit lullaby that floats somewhere between David Bowie’s celestial melancholy and Suris’ own dreamlike storytelling.
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Then there’s ‘Warrior Queen’, the showstopper: a fearless, rule-smashing epic that begins with intimate piano before exploding into a full-throttle battle cry of guitars, synths, and soaring vocals. It’s wild, theatrical, and utterly intoxicating.
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What makes ‘Rare Brew’ so thrilling is the sense of discovery baked into every track. Some pieces originated on humble home setups; others grew from years spent experimenting across eras and equipment. Yet nothing here feels dated or dusty; Suris were already ahead of their time, and these songs now shine with the clarity they always deserved.
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This anthology distills everything that makes the band extraordinary: their taste for shadowy folklore, their magnetic blend of art-rock and dream-pop shimmer, as well as their talent for weaving beauty and unease into something you feel in your bones.
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‘Rare Brew’ is a reminder, delivered with dazzling, renewed force, that Suris have always been quietly, fiercely brilliant.
Suris revitalize their past with remastered collection, “Rare Brew”
With Rare Brew, Suris, the collaborative powerhouse of Lindsey and David Mackie deliver yet another masterclass in atmospheric storytelling and genre-bending. This 2025 “re-release”, remastering a curated selection of tracks from 2005 to 2015 (with hints of even earlier work from the 1990s), breathes fresh life into an already striking catalog. The result is an album that feels both familiar and revolutionary, one that takes the best of the past and infuses them with so much modernity.
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Lindsey’s vocals are the unmistakable heartbeat of the record. Her delivery threads through the album’s eclectic soundscape with a confidence that recalls icons like Kate Bush or Lorde, while the songwriting weaves narratives that invite repeated listening. There’s 100% a cinematic quality to the compositions, like a willingness to explore both beauty and disquiet in equal measure. Every lyric is carefully framed by melodies that linger long after the music stops. Some personal standouts for us were “This Is The City” and “Scaur Bank”.
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On the other hand, David’s production, mixing, and mastering amplify that vision, transforming these arrangements into fully realized worlds of sound. The duo handles most of the instrumentation themselves, with Lindsey commanding the piano and keys and David shaping guitars and the overarching textures. The remastering work gives these older tracks a modern sheen without erasing the warmth and imperfections of their original recordings. Even the 1992 Fostex 8-track demos, such as “Big Ship” and “Vertigo,” are revitalized, maintaining the charm of that older production while priming them for the modern age.
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Stylistically as we’ve mentioned previously on their other albums, Rare Brew is still impossibly diverse. It feels like it’s all forms of Rock under the sun that find space within the album, yet it’s still so cohesive. Suris seamlessly blends these influences into one identity, proving their mastery of storytelling, but also carving out something that’s unique to them. From lush layers to intimate, haunting passages, the record shifts effortlessly, taking listeners on a journey that’s nostalgic.
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Rare Brew is a rare achievement to say the least. It’s a record that honors the past while boldly embracing the present. For anyone seeking music that is timeless yet contemporary, this is a record that’s the literal definition. From start to finish, we promise you’re going to enjoy it. Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more from the duo!
By Cage Riot
Suris Unleashes A Lush, Cinematic Vision As 'Rare Brew' Reveals Mastery And Emotional Control
Rare Brew' is immersive, radiant, and meticulously crafted, revealing new depth with every listen.
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Suris arrives with Rare Brew in a way that instantly commands attention, and after just one listen, we were buzzing, but following many subsequent plays, that excitement became the realization that this album has no ceiling when it comes to reveals and hidden details living inside each track. There’s something undeniably magnetic about how Suris shapes their sound, pulling you in with an approach that hits with intention and lingers long after the music fades. “Rare Brew feels like a world you step into once and keep discovering new corners every time you return.”
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“Great Wide Open” opens with a soft, ethereal introduction paired with an exciting drum texture you can almost feel on your fingertips, while the slightly dragging pace creates a deeply relaxed sensation. That atmosphere perfectly develops the entrance for a stunning vocal performance that follows, and with a voice that feels like the wind, Lindsey Mackies’ delivery is light, otherworldly, and immersive, as if a ghostly presence is floating all around you. The beauty of her tone is matched by its uniqueness, immediately feeling fresh and unforgettable, and following that brilliance is a signature soft tail that trails each lyric like a shimmer of light. Her emotional emphasis becomes its own instrument, growing more captivating with every listen. “Suris turns atmosphere into emotion, and emotion into something unforgettable.”
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Supporting that radiance is the surrounding musical arrangement, which leans into minimalism, but because of its execution, becomes even more impactful. Gentle, floating notes pair with a particularly memorable guitar resonance that feels like a wrinkle-in-space effect, and what also makes it special is how dynamically it’s placed within the song. These moments don’t just pass by; they imprint themselves, becoming the parts you find yourself waiting for on repeat listens. “The restraint in Suris’ arrangement is exactly what makes it feel so powerful.”
As the vocals and instrumentation hold their own space, they also blend dynamically, fully accentuating one another through subtle choices like gently reverberated percussion that gradually flows into a slow-building crescendo. That rise carries a cosmic essence that feels intoxicating, and following that swell is a sense of release that lands with elegance rather than force. “Every layer feels purposeful, like it was placed with care rather than excess.”
The break arrives and leaves you momentarily stunned, with each instrument stepping forward for a brief moment of individual shine before cascading into an outro that builds toward a gentle yet steady climax. It’s a moment that feels earned, graceful, and deeply satisfying in its execution. “Suris understands exactly when to let a song breathe and when to let it soar.”
“Warrior Queen” immediately makes it clear that creativity and boundary-pushing are core elements of what this duo delivers. With a Broadway-styled piano entrance, Lindsay conjures emotion with striking precision, and what also unfolds is a push-and-pull between piano and harmony that plays directly with the listener’s senses. Her delicate phrasing effortlessly transforms into powerful, soaring runs that create waves of euphoria and bliss, and following that is a vocal performance that feels worthy of a standing ovation. The full, bursting instrumental support carries her expressions from joy to heartbreak, until the arrival of blasting drums confirms this is the cinematic moment you didn’t know you needed. “Suris turns theatrical ambition into pure emotional payoff.”
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We close with “Vertigo,” and the upbeat tempo once again proves there are no boundaries Suris cannot break. Rooted in a ’70s soft rock sensibility but polished with a contemporary edge, its orchestral blending creates a natural, outdoor openness that feels expansive and freeing. The song transports your mind into a calm, almost meditative state, and following that journey is a guitar-narrated outro that stands as one of the most creative and exhilarating moments on the album. “Suris makes time periods disappear, leaving only feeling behind.”
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Across Rare Brew, Suris doesn’t just explore sound, they explore control. Every beat, every breath, and every decision feels intentionally crafted to elevate both performance and perspective, delivering clarity and precision across the entire production. This album isn’t simply about strong songwriting, it’s about presenting those songs at the highest level possible, with crisp instrumental layering, dynamic mixing, and emotional pacing that feels polished without ever losing its heart. “Rare Brew is proof that mastery and soul can coexist beautifully.”
We came away wildly impressed by the talent and performance of Suris, experiencing what felt like one surprise after another, each one leaving us thrilled and amazed. “Suris doesn’t just meet expectations on Rare Brew, they quietly surpass them.”
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About The Artist:
Suris is the creative partnership of Lindsey and David Mackie, a duo driven by a shared vision of crafting music that feels both enduring and unmistakably their own. Their sound is built on carefully sculpted arrangements that give space and dimension to Lindsey’s richly layered vocals, allowing each performance to unfold with depth, intention, and emotional pull. Rather than following convention, Suris leans into storytelling that feels immersive and transportive, blending expressive musicianship with an instinct for atmosphere that invites listeners to lean in and stay present.
This body of work brings together songs that have deeply connected with listeners and industry professionals alike, now refined through David’s evolved approach to production, mixing, and mastering. The result is a collection that moves fluidly across styles, from accessible melodic moments to boldly experimental passages, always balancing familiarity with surprise. Between them, Lindsey and David handle the majority of the instrumentation, with Lindsey leading the writing from piano and keys while David shapes the sonic identity through guitar work and meticulous production choices, creating a seamless creative exchange that feels both focused and expansive.
We’re so excited to have found Suris and can’t wait to hear more from this remarkable and visionary duo.
​​By ​Dino DiMuro of Pitch Perfect
Rare Brew is something of a career retrospective for Suris, an English alt-rock duo comprised of Lindsey and David Mackie. They began recording way back in the 90's on 4-track cassette and 8-track reel to reel, and these songs are remastered or reimagined mixes of tracks up to 2015. They play music with "hints of 80's and 90's nostalgia" and have been compared to Kate Bush, Radiohead, Lorde, Lana Del Ray and Fleetwood Mac.
The couple makes most of the music themselves. Lindsey is the chief songwriter, creating chord schemes and lyrics over David's rhythms. Lindsey sings and plays keyboards, while David provides the guitars, bass and drums along with production, mixing and mastering. They say these songs were inspired by albums like "Remain In Light" (Talking Heads), "Discipline" (King Crimson) and "Tin Drum" (Japan).
"Astroturf" starts with a Stones-like acoustic piano trill, then moves into more of a dreampop reverie, bathed in ethereal keys. Lindsey has quite a beautiful voice and it's no surprise the band's early demos caught the ear of Polygram Records. This song feels absolutely organic, as if sprung fully-formed from the couples' unconscious. We end with that same Stonesy piano run. "This is the City" immediately widens the group's palette into expansive, orchestral rock territory, with the same kind of melodic and instrumental ambition as Laurie Anderson's "Mr. Heartbreak". Next is "Great Wide Open" which is one of the couple's favorites: "Very stripped back with a Space Oddity vibe." It's definitely a quieter and more intimate track, with melodies somewhat like Elton John (especially in the chorus) and a near-tropical marimba sound like Martin Denny.
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"Big Ship" is one of the early 8-track recordings cleaned up for modern ears, and the rhythms are air-tight behind Lindsey's multiple and quite beautiful vocals. "Scaur Bank" definitely has a Stevie Nicks quality to the lead vocals, which have an arresting "quivering" effect (I think I might be hearing David joining in at the end, too). "Hellion" is a touching ode to (I believe) one of the couple's kids, with a similar vocal trill and thick, sweet strings. "Warrior Queen" is advertised as a track that "breaks all the rules, starting with an acoustic upright piano and ending with a mighty guitar/synth pulse/vocal battle." This one definitely leans hard into prog-ville, with an interesting overlay of Latin Pop. Lindsey goes full Kate Bush at the end, with a wild, elemental vocal workout that almost makes you step back! "Absolute Zero" is more of a straight-ahead synth popper, and works as a palette cleanser.
"Riverman" combines steady beats, solid piano, lovely vocals and what sounds like a full orchestra for another synth pop wonder, with a lead guitar that recalls Steve Hackett in Genesis. Continuing the mellow prog sound, "Last Fish in the Sea" kind of sounds like it was recorded in an underwater studio, what with the waves of reverb and shimmering vocals and keys.
"All Over Again" is the final track and also the third of the "1992 8-track tapes" to be remade. Honestly you'd never know this wasn't a brand new studio recordings from top to bottom, with the band's trademark diverse arrangements seemingly housed in a self-contained universe with restless spirits and strange atmospheres. Some wild lead guitar and vocal scatting complete the picture.
I always love hearing music that sounds familiar but adds new layers and complexities I wouldn't have expected. This is a fine collection from a duo with a unique and fearless approach to their songs.
By James Kerr
High Wycombe, England-based alternative rock band Suris has unleashed its new album, Rare Brew. Suris is a musical duo consisting of Lindsey and David Mackie, who recently made waves with their album, Pertinax.
Their latest release, Rare Brew, is a spectacular 12-track project that blends elements of alternative rock, art pop, and dream pop. Hazy instrumentation and cinematic rhythms immerse the listener in an array of psychedelic soundscapes. Enchanting vocals illuminate the tracks with a mesmerizing presence.
The combination results in a ruminative experience fueled by alluring production and captivating storytelling. Suris’ new album, Rare Brew, is a wonderful pop-rock hit and the perfect addition to any alternative playlist.
​​By ​Indie Dock
The Mackies have always operated outside the conventional machinery of the music industry, and *Rare Brew* stands as defiant proof that such independence can yield extraordinary results. This remastered anthology, drawing from recordings spanning 2005 to 2015—with roots reaching back to 1992—captures a husband-and-wife duo who've spent thirty years refining their singular aesthetic while the world moved on without them. That they've persisted is admirable; that the music remains this compelling is remarkable.
Lindsey Mackie's vocals possess a quality rarely heard in contemporary music—a richness that recalls Kate Bush's theatrical intelligence without ever descending into mimicry. Her voice carries stories that unsettle rather than comfort, narratives that burrow beneath the skin and refuse easy extraction. Dave's production work frames these performances with remarkable restraint, allowing space for the subversive undercurrents that define their approach. The comparison to Radiohead feels earned not through sonic similarity but through shared instincts: both acts understand that beauty and disquiet need not be mutually exclusive.
'Big Ship' announces their intentions immediately. Originally captured on a Fostex 8-track in 1992 and subsequently reworked, it retains the raw urgency of its origins while benefiting from decades of accumulated wisdom. The track's evolution mirrors the band's own trajectory—born from limitation, refined through persistence. That Right Recordings saw fit to release it as a single speaks to its immediate potency, though one wonders what might have been had industry momentum not been derailed by tragedy and circumstance.
'Great Wide Open' strips everything back to essentials, and the Space Oddity comparison isn't mere hyperbole. There's genuine cosmic loneliness here, the kind of existential remove that Bowie perfected but few have successfully channeled since. The homemade video, with its primitive effects and earnest ambition, somehow enhances rather than diminishes the track's impact. It serves as reminder that authenticity can't be manufactured, only captured.
Then comes 'Warrior Queen,' which thoroughly demolishes any notion that Suris operate within predictable parameters. Beginning with delicate piano before erupting into a cacophonous battle between guitar, synth, and vocal, it exemplifies their willingness to follow songs wherever they need to go. This isn't prog rock indulgence for its own sake—every shift feels necessary, every build earned. The rules it breaks are the ones deserving demolition.
The production across *Rare Brew* reveals the benefits of their self-sufficient approach. Working without label interference or producer mediation, the Mackies have crafted arrangements that serve the songs rather than current trends. The remastering for 2025 brings clarity without sacrificing character, walking that difficult line between preservation and enhancement. These tracks breathe with organic life, the sound of two people finishing each other's musical sentences across decades of collaboration.
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​The real triumph of *Rare Brew* lies in its refusal to compromise. The Mackies raised children, lost crucial industry support, and continued making uncompromising music while countless contemporaries either vanished or adapted themselves into irrelevance. This collection documents artists who've chosen integrity over expedience, craft over commerce. Whether that makes for consistently brilliant listening is almost beside the point—though it frequently does. *Rare Brew* exists as testament that genuine artistic vision can survive industry indifference, personal tragedy, and the simple passage of time. That alone makes it worth your attention.
By Dulaxi
Suris – Rare Brew Album Review: A Timeless, Atmospheric Collection of Emotion, Subtle Power, and Quiet Artistic Resilience
Suris is the artistic union of Lindsey and David Mackie, a husband-and-wife duo based in High Wycombe, England, whose music is shaped by longevity, instinct, and a deep respect for storytelling through sound. Their journey together began long before Suris became a defined name, rooted instead in shared creative curiosity and an early commitment to music as both expression and purpose. Lindsey and Dave first crossed paths while studying at the University of East Anglia, meeting in a setting that reflected their shared social consciousness: a benefit concert for Vietnamese boat people, where both were performing with different bands. Lindsey fronted The Clynics, a group influenced by the post-punk and new-wave spirit of Siouxsie Sioux and Blondie, while Dave played guitar in the punk band Capitalist Music. Despite their contrasting styles, both artists were united by a desire to push emotional and musical boundaries. Their respective bands later appeared on the compilation Welcome to Norwich – A Fine City, marking an early convergence of their creative paths.
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What began as a personal collaboration soon evolved into a recording experiment driven by curiosity rather than commercial ambition. With only a four-track cassette recorder at their disposal, Lindsey and Dave started shaping songs that prioritized atmosphere, melody, and emotional depth. This exploratory phase led to the formation of Rare, a project that included Simon Welander. Drawing inspiration from influential albums such as Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, King Crimson’s Discipline, and Japan’s Tin Drum, the group built intricately layered compositions by repeatedly bouncing tracks, transforming technical limitations into creative strength. Their richly textured demos caught the attention of Ensign Records and later Polygram, signaling a moment when their artistry aligned with wider industry interest. Around this time, Lindsey won a Sky-sponsored talent competition for her song “Never Enough,” earning the opportunity to produce a professional music video for “Take All She Brings.” An upgrade to an eight-track studio further expanded their creative possibilities, and momentum appeared to be building.
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However, just as recognition began to grow, their journey took an unexpected turn. The sudden death of Lindsey’s manager removed a key figure from their support system, and pregnancy soon followed, reshaping priorities and redirecting their focus. Rather than stepping away from music, Lindsey and Dave embraced an unconventional, fiercely independent approach. Balancing family life with artistic commitment, they became entirely self-sufficient, writing, performing, recording, producing, and mastering their own work. This independence defines Suris today. Lindsey takes full writing credits and leads on piano and keys, crafting rich lyrical narratives and emotionally nuanced melodies, while Dave focuses on guitars, drums, bass, and the technical precision of production, mixing, and mastering. Together, they play most of the instruments themselves, finishing each other’s musical sentences with an ease developed over years of collaboration. Their sound is often described as timeless, blending smooth, atmospheric arrangements with stories that are unusual, unsettling, and quietly subversive beneath their polished surface.
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Reviewers have drawn comparisons to artists such as Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey, placing Suris within a broad spectrum that spans art rock, alternative rock, alternative folk, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and dream pop. Hints of 1970s and 1980s nostalgia surface throughout their work, not as imitation, but as an organic influence filtered through decades of lived experience. Free from ego and industry pressure, Suris remain deeply committed to the song itself, allowing emotion, atmosphere, and narrative to guide every creative decision. Released on 5 December 2025, “Rare Brew” is a carefully curated collection that captures the essence of Suris’ artistic journey across time. Rather than presenting new material alone, the album brings together the songs that have most deeply resonated with listeners and industry professionals over the years, newly remastered to reflect Dave’s refined mastering skills and sonic vision.
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The tracks on “Rare Brew” span recordings made between 2005 and 2015, with several songs, including “Big Ship,” “All Over Again,” and “Vertigo,” tracing their origins back to 1992, first recorded on a Fostex eight-track reel-to-reel tape machine. Notably, elements of those original recordings remain woven into the final versions, preserving their emotional authenticity while enhancing clarity and depth. “Rare Brew” moves effortlessly between styles, offering everything from straight-ahead pop to the avant-garde. Listeners can expect moments that feel comfortingly familiar alongside unexpected turns that challenge and intrigue. The album carries subtle echoes of the 1980s and 1990s, yet remains unmistakably original, shaped by years of independence, reflection, and artistic refinement. Above all, “Rare Brew” stands as a testament to Suris’ enduring creative spirit. It is an album brewed slowly, patiently, and with intention, a collection that invites listeners into a world where atmosphere, emotion, and storytelling are allowed to unfold naturally. With its re-release on 5 December 2025, “Rare Brew” offers both a reintroduction and a reaffirmation of Suris as artists who create music not for fleeting moments, but for lasting connection.
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“Astrosurf” by Suris opens “Rare Brew” with a slow, almost reverent sense of arrival, as though the song is gently emerging rather than beginning outright. The introduction is anchored by soft, carefully voiced piano chords that feel suspended in space, immediately establishing a mood of introspection and quiet wonder. There is a stillness here that feels intentional, inviting the listener into a reflective state before a single word is sung. When the lead vocal finally enters, it does so with a fragile calm that feels deeply human, unforced, intimate, and emotionally transparent. The voice carries a tender restraint, hovering delicately above the piano as if reluctant to disturb the serenity already in place. The phrasing is measured and expressive, allowing emotion to seep through the spaces between lines. From the very first moments, “Astrosurf” feels less like a song designed for impact and more like an emotional environment being carefully built, one gentle layer at a time.
As the track unfolds, the song reveals its quiet sophistication through gradual instrumental expansion. Subtle guitar textures drift in, lightly brushed and atmospheric, adding depth without pulling focus away from the vocal narrative. Then comes a pivotal moment, the understated entrance of percussion, which introduces a gentle but unmistakable shift in energy. Rather than breaking the song’s calm, the percussion deepens it, providing a soft rhythmic grounding that gives the track forward motion while preserving its dreamlike quality. This moment feels like a quiet awakening, where the song subtly lifts itself from stillness into motion. The drums are restrained and tastefully mixed, acting more as a heartbeat than a driving force, and this careful choice allows the emotional weight of the song to remain intact. The vocal delivery grows more assured here, not louder, but more emotionally present, as if leaning further into the sentiment of the song. Background harmonies appear with ghostlike subtlety, enriching the emotional texture and reinforcing the song’s sense of depth and intimacy. The production shines in its ability to let each element breathe, nothing crowds the mix, and every sound feels purposeful and emotionally aligned.
In its final stretch, “Astrosurf” settles into a beautifully sustained emotional space, maintaining its delicate balance between movement and stillness. The percussion continues to guide the song gently forward, while the instrumentation subtly swells and recedes, creating a sensation of emotional ebb and flow rather than a traditional climax. There is a quiet confidence in how the song refuses to overstate itself; instead, it trusts its atmosphere and emotional honesty to carry the listener through to the end. The closing moments feel reflective and open-ended, echoing the calm of the introduction while leaving behind a lingering emotional resonance. As the song fades, it doesn’t feel finished so much as gently released, allowing its mood to linger long after the final notes dissolve. “Astrosurf” stands as a beautifully composed piece that showcases Suris’ mastery of subtlety, where emotion is conveyed through nuance, space, and restraint, and it serves as a graceful, emotionally grounding opening statement for “Rare Brew”.
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“Great Wide Open” by Suris unfolds with a sense of quiet confidence, easing the listener into its world through a carefully measured introduction that feels both expansive and intimate. The song begins with gentle, shimmering instrumentation that immediately suggests openness and possibility, as if the music itself is breathing in before taking its first step forward. Soft keys and atmospheric textures form the foundation, creating a luminous backdrop that feels calm yet expectant. When the vocal enters, it does so with a composed warmth, carrying an emotional clarity that feels reassuring rather than dramatic. There is an unspoken optimism in the way the melody rises and falls, balanced by a subtle restraint that keeps the song grounded. From the very start, “Great Wide Open” establishes itself as a reflective piece, one that invites contemplation while quietly hinting at emotional movement beneath the surface.
As the track progresses, its layered beauty begins to fully reveal itself. The arrangement gradually widens, introducing delicate guitar lines and gentle rhythmic elements that enhance the song’s sense of motion without overwhelming its peaceful core. The percussion appears with soft precision, adding a steady pulse that gives the track a subtle forward drive, reinforcing the feeling of journey and emotional progression. This rhythmic presence brings a quiet lift to the song, shifting it from pure atmosphere into something more grounded and purposeful. Vocally, the performance becomes more emotionally resonant, with phrasing that feels thoughtful and deeply connected to the song’s reflective mood. Harmonies drift in gracefully, adding emotional weight and a sense of depth, like distant echoes reinforcing the central melody. The production remains clean and spacious, allowing each element to sit comfortably in the mix while preserving the song’s airy, open quality.
In its later moments, “Great Wide Open” settles into a beautifully sustained emotional flow, maintaining its gentle momentum while allowing its atmosphere to fully bloom. There is no dramatic peak, but rather a steady emotional expansion that mirrors the song’s title, an openness that feels freeing and quietly affirming. The instrumentation subtly swells, then relaxes, creating a natural ebb and flow that feels organic and emotionally sincere. As the song draws to a close, the elements slowly recede, leaving behind a sense of calm resolution and reflective warmth. The ending feels deliberate and unhurried, giving the listener space to absorb the emotional journey the song has offered. “Great Wide Open” stands out as a tender, thoughtfully crafted piece that highlights Suris’ ability to blend atmosphere, melody, and emotional subtlety into a track that feels timeless, comforting, and quietly uplifting within the broader context of “Rare Brew”.
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“Warrior Queen” by Suris arrives with a sense of quiet majesty, unfolding in a way that immediately sets it apart within Rare Brew. The song opens with measured piano lines that feel deliberate and ceremonial, each note carrying weight and intention. There is an almost theatrical stillness in these opening moments, as though the track is preparing the listener for something emotionally significant rather than rushing to make an impression. When the vocal enters, it does so with poise and emotional depth, projecting strength without sacrificing vulnerability. The delivery feels composed yet expressive, suggesting resilience and inner resolve rather than outward force. From the outset, “Warrior Queen” establishes a tone of dignity and emotional presence, drawing the listener into a narrative that feels both personal and symbolic.
As the song progresses, its emotional architecture becomes more pronounced through carefully layered instrumentation. Subtle textures begin to surround the piano, soft ambient elements and restrained guitar tones that add dimension without overshadowing the core melody. The percussion enters gradually, not with urgency, but with purpose, introducing a steady rhythmic foundation that reinforces the song’s sense of forward movement and inner strength. This moment marks a gentle but important shift in energy, giving the track a more grounded presence while preserving its elegance. Vocally, the performance grows in confidence and emotional reach, with phrases that feel fuller and more assertive as the song unfolds. Background harmonies appear with tasteful restraint, enhancing the emotional gravity of the chorus-like moments and giving the song a cinematic breadth. The production is notably refined, allowing space for emotional expression while ensuring every element feels cohesive and intentional.
In its final section, “Warrior Queen” reaches a powerful sense of emotional balance rather than a dramatic climax. The instrumentation subtly swells, creating a feeling of triumph that remains understated and graceful. The rhythm holds steady, supporting the vocal as it delivers its final lines with quiet conviction and emotional clarity. As the song begins to draw to a close, elements gradually fall away, returning the listener to a sense of calm reflection while leaving behind a lingering impression of strength and resilience. The ending feels earned and thoughtfully resolved, echoing the song’s opening dignity while reinforcing its emotional core. “Warrior Queen” stands as one of the most emotionally grounded and thematically resonant moments on “Rare Brew”, showcasing Suris’ ability to convey power not through volume or excess, but through subtlety, control, and deeply felt expression.
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“Vertigo” by Suris introduces a noticeable shift in energy on “Rare Brew”, opening with a sense of motion that feels immediate and alive. From the very first moments, the song carries a forward-leaning momentum, driven by confident guitar lines that feel brighter and more animated than much of the surrounding material on the album. The introduction sets a slightly upbeat, almost restless tone, suggesting movement, uncertainty, and emotional momentum all at once. When the vocal enters, it does so with clarity and assurance, cutting cleanly through the instrumentation while still maintaining the warmth and emotional sensitivity that defines Suris’ sound. There is an engaging balance between control and freedom in the delivery, as if the voice is both steering the song and allowing itself to be carried by it. This opening section establishes “Vertigo” as a track that embraces motion and emotional lift without losing its thoughtful character.
As the song develops, its structure becomes more dynamic and expressive, with each element contributing to the sensation implied by the title. The rhythm section plays a central role here, with percussion providing a steady, driving pulse that pushes the song forward while keeping it grounded. The guitars expand in presence, layering textures that feel expansive and slightly raw, adding a classic rock-leaning edge to the track. There is a subtle exhilaration in the way the song builds, as melodic phrases rise and fall with a sense of emotional urgency. Vocally, the performance grows more animated, leaning into the song’s movement and emotional intensity without becoming overwhelming. Harmonies appear at key moments, thickening the sound and enhancing the sense of scale. The production remains clean yet energetic, allowing the interplay between vocals, guitars, and rhythm to feel both polished and alive, reinforcing the song’s sense of momentum and controlled chaos.
In its closing stretch, “Vertigo” sustains its energy while gradually easing into a sense of resolution. The instrumentation continues to pulse with purpose, but there is a subtle softening that brings emotional clarity to the song’s final moments. Rather than ending abruptly, the track allows its elements to breathe, letting the guitars and rhythm gently settle as the vocal delivers its concluding lines with confidence and composure. The ending feels reflective without losing the song’s forward-moving spirit, as if the emotional rush has found its balance. “Vertigo” ultimately stands out as one of the more energetic and uplifting moments on “Rare Brew”, offering contrast while remaining deeply aligned with the album’s emotional core. It showcases Suris’ versatility, proving they can channel motion, brightness, and drive while still maintaining the thoughtful songwriting and atmospheric depth that define their sound.
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"Rare Brew is a timeless, emotionally rich journey where atmosphere, storytelling, and quiet resilience
converge, rewarding patient listeners with lasting depth"
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In its entirety, “Rare Brew” stands as a deeply considered and emotionally resonant body of work that reflects the rare patience and integrity with which Suris approach their craft, offering listeners an album shaped by time, lived experience, and unwavering artistic instinct. Rather than chasing immediacy or spectacle, Lindsey and David Mackie invite the listener into a carefully constructed world where atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional nuance take precedence, allowing each song to unfold naturally and reveal its meaning through subtle detail and restraint.
The album’s breadth, moving effortlessly from intimate, stripped-back moments to more expansive and unconventional arrangements, showcases a duo fully in command of their creative language, unafraid to explore vulnerability, resilience, motion, and quiet introspection within the same sonic space.
“Rare Brew” rewards attentive listening, revealing new textures, emotional undercurrents, and narrative connections with each return, making it particularly compelling for audiences who value depth over distraction and artistry over trend. It is highly recommended for listeners drawn to art rock, dream pop, and alternative music rooted in strong songwriting and evocative atmosphere, as well as for those who appreciate music that feels timeless rather than time-bound. Ultimately, “Rare Brew” is not just a collection of songs, but a testament to creative endurance and emotional honesty, an album that lingers long after its final notes, offering comfort, reflection, and quiet inspiration to anyone willing to truly listen.
Review of 'Astrosurf' by Good Music Radar
Dive in & Float along to this dreamy, cosmic alt-pop expression of pure love from Suris, ‘Astrosurf’!
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Suris is the multi-dimensional musical duo of Lindsey and David Mackie. Their unique soundscapes evoke a mystical, timeless feeling, tapping into complex emotional depth, texture and tone through a sublime blend of electronica, jazz, and pop. Think Imogen Heap meets Moby & Massive Attack.
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Fresh off their latest album, ‘Rare Brew,’ comes the captivating opener, ‘Astrosurf.’ Drawing you in with tender piano tones and intriguing, organic atmospherics, you feel a weightless sense of ease and calm.
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Lindsey’s vocals, soft and soothing, sing of discovering a love that feels like a cosmic oasis, a sanctuary of caring tenderness, that makes the whole world disappear. But it ain’t all cloud 9 ecstasy; the lyrics tell a thought-provoking tale of doubt, despair, seeking, wondering, surrendering and ultimately, arriving into the ever-loving, protective presence of the Astrosurf Lifeline.
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Musically, ‘Astrosurf’ is a delightfully graceful and textured soundscape. Between the captivating vocal and piano melodies, ethereal atmospherics and subtle rhythmic grooves, you get a sense of something soulful and deeply emotional building here.
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We especially enjoyed the journey through cinematic crescendo sections. Swells in tone and pitch instantly elevate the emotional tone and depth quite magnificently. Rich, crystal-clear, immersive sound quality and minimal enhancements speak volumes to Suris’s honest yet avant-garde production and songwriting.
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The result is a stirring, timeless alt pop love ballad, Astrosurf, that gets your heart quietly racing and your mind dreaming across space and time.
By Grace
Suris, a rising duo based in the UK, released their latest album, Rare Brew.
Suris, a rising duo based in the UK, released their latest album, Rare Brew, which consists of a carefully curated collection of remastered songs from the duo’s catalogue that were recorded between 2005 and 2015. Rather than feeling archival, Rare Brew highlights the band’s consistent commitment to their sound. It is an album that was made for attentive listening, balancing subtlety with a bit of experimentation.
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Suris consists of artists Lindsey and David Mackie. The duo, and their music, is shaped by their life experience and passion for songwriting and music. They formed their duo while they were students at University of East Anglia and evolved through various phases of artistry. Lindsey, always being the primary songwriter and vocalist, anchors the project. Her piano-led tracks provide the foundation for the production. Meanwhile, Dave’s addition of guitars, bass, drums, and production completes the sound, making the album sound meticulously put together. Their shared collaboration history is perfectly showcased on Rare Brew.
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Several tracks stand out for how they capture the duo’s signature sound. One in particular is “Big Ship,” which is one of the earliest recordings included. The song has a beautiful layered arrangement that is a prime example of the duo’s commitment to texture and rhythm. Additionally, “Great Wide Open” is a more stripped back and reflective song that brings more of a “Space Oddity”-era sense of wonder. It’s a great example of a track that allows Lindsey’s vocals to shine without distraction. For listeners seeking something more unpredictable, “Warrior Queen” features an upright piano at the start and gradually expanding into a clash of guitars, synths, and vocals.
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Across the album, comparisons to artists such as Kate Bush, Radiohead, and Fleetwood Mac would be easy. Like those artists, Suri mixes smooth arrangements with themes that feel slightly unsettled. While not new, the remastering brings a polish that enhances clarity. Yet, it’s important to note, the album keeps the warmth of the original recordings, contributing to an early-2000s CD-era feel.
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And it’s not a super uncommon feat. Projects like Rare Brew are part of a wider trend of artists revisiting earlier music to reach new audiences. Groups such as Radiohead with OKNOTOK as well as Fleetwood Mac with expanded reissues are great examples of how recontextualized releases can draw new attention. With streaming platforms, which are driven by playlists and algorithms, these rereleases often perform differently than their original releases. For Suris, Rare Brew has similar potential as it’s the perfect example of an album that bridges eras of their work into a cohesive listening experience. By presenting familiar songs with new mastering, the album can reconnect their fans while inviting a new audience through streaming platforms and editorial playlists.
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All in all, Rare Brew did a great job highlighting the talent that Suris has as well as their evolution over the years. The chosen songs are perfect examples of the quality of their songwriting, production, and the value of their longstanding partnership. Classic in spirit yet with a modern quality, Rare Brew manages to be both an album that sounds reflective while also being subtly forward-looking.
by Michael Jamo
Suris Return With a Timeless Collection In “Rare Brew” Where Beauty, Unease, and Memory Collide
After their last appearance with Pertinax, Suris returned not as a nostalgia act but as quiet architects of atmosphere. Lindsey and David Mackie operate in a space where elegance and unease coexist: polished arrangements, rich vocals, and stories that subtly unsettle. Rare Brew feels less like a compilation and more like a reclaimed identity—songs written across decades, now unified through careful remastering and renewed intent.
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Lindsey’s voice is the album’s constant compass: textured, intimate, and emotionally restrained, yet always expressive. There’s a sense of control in the delivery—nothing is over-sung—allowing the narratives to breathe. Dave’s production is equally assured, blending guitars, keys, and understated electronics into a sound that nods to the ’80s and ’90s while remaining unmistakably personal.
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The album opens with a sense of artificial comfort—smooth, controlled, and faintly unsettling. “Astrosurf” feels like a commentary on manufactured realities and emotional insulation. Lindsey’s vocals glide effortlessly, almost deceptively calm, while the arrangement subtly tightens around her. It’s a confident opener that establishes the album’s central tension: beauty versus truth.
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Urban, observant, and quietly cinematic, “This Is The City” feels like walking alone through city streets at night. The performance is restrained but evocative, with Dave’s guitar textures adding grit beneath the polished surface. Lindsey delivers the lyrics with a storyteller’s detachment, as if reporting on lives brushing past each other, never quite connecting.
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As one of the emotional highlights of the album, “Great Wide Open” is stripped back and intimate, carrying a gentle Space Oddity–era vulnerability. The sparse instrumentation gives Lindsey’s voice room to breathe, and the song feels expansive despite its minimalism. There’s a sense of longing here—not for escape, but for meaning. Listening to it feels like staring up at a night sky that offers no answers, only perspective.
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Originally recorded in 1992 on a Fostex 8-track reel-to-reel, “Big Ship” carries its history proudly. The retained elements of the original recording give it a raw authenticity that modern polish couldn’t replicate. The song feels like a slow-moving metaphor—perhaps for fate, perhaps for inevitability—anchored by steady instrumentation and a vocal performance that feels both patient and resigned.
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Atmospheric and quietly haunting, “Scaur Bank” leans into mood and texture. The instrumentation ebbs and flows like tidewater, while Lindsey’s voice feels almost ghostlike at times. This is one of those tracks that rewards close listening; its emotional impact grows subtly, rather than announcing itself outright.
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Dark, assertive, and unapologetic. “Hellion” has teeth. There’s a tension between the smoothness of the production and the underlying aggression of the song’s spirit. Lindsey’s delivery is controlled but pointed, while Dave’s guitar work adds edge without overwhelming the track. It’s easy to hear why this resonated with industry listeners.
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The seventh song, “Warrior Queen,” is unquestionably one of the album’s daring moments. Beginning with an acoustic upright piano, the track slowly builds into a powerful, rule-breaking finale of guitar, synth pulses, and layered vocals. This track feels theatrical without being indulgent, a sonic battle that mirrors its title. Lindsey’s vocal performance here is commanding and embodies vulnerability and defiance.
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Cold, sparse, and emotionally distant in the best possible way. “Absolute Zero” feels like emotional stasis—after loss, after realization. The arrangement is restrained, allowing silence and space to become part of the composition. Lindsey’s delivery is almost detached, making the moments of warmth feel all the more impactful.
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Fluid and introspective, “Riverman” carries a sense of quiet movement. The instrumentation flows gently beneath Lindsey’s voice, creating a reflective atmosphere that feels timeless. This track is deeply human. It’s an acknowledgment of change, passage, and inevitability.
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Melancholic and poignant, “Last Fish In The Sea” feels like a meditation on isolation and survival. The performance is understated but emotionally precise. Lindsey sings with a softness that suggests acceptance rather than despair, while the arrangement supports the narrative without drawing attention to itself.
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One of the tracks with roots in the early 90s recordings, “Vertigo” retains a raw, slightly unsteady energy that suits its theme perfectly. The song feels disorienting in a deliberate way, with shifting textures and a vocal performance that mirrors emotional imbalance without ever losing control.
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The album closes with reflection rather than resolution. “All Over Again” feels cyclical—about patterns, mistakes, and the strange comfort of familiarity. Lindsey’s vocal delivery is warm and weary, and the instrumentation gently fades rather than concludes, leaving the listener suspended in thought.
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Listening to “Rare Brew” in its entirety felt like spending time with a trusted storyteller who knows when to speak and when to stay silent. There’s no filler here, no attempt to modernize for the sake of relevance. Instead, Suris offer something rarer: music that trusts the listener.
This album doesn’t demand attention—it earns it. If you are discovering Suris for the first time, Rare Brew is an ideal entry point, and for longtime followers, it’s a reaffirmation of why these songs mattered then and why they still matter now.
Reviews of 'Absolute Zero' Video
By Michael McCarthy
"Absolute Zero” is the second single from SURIS’ album. And what a glorious single it is. Duo Lindsey and Dave Mackie — a real life couple — have truly created something special with Rare Brew, which we’ll be reviewing shortly. In the meantime, we just had to turn you onto “Absolute Zero,” which is one of the most stunning and breath-taking songs we’ve stumbled upon in months.
Lindsey’s voice has a very unique sound yet sounds instantly familiar. And she’s capable of making you feel multiple emotions all within the course of a single song, her voice sometimes seductive, sometimes standoffish and alternating between sounding grounded and ethereal. That’s quite a gift. Clearly, she was destined to make music and when we listen to “Absolute Zero” we almost believe in fate, thinking about how so many things had to happen to lead her to the point of crafting this song… It’s kind of mind-blowing.
In any case, give it a listen and make sure to watch the video, too. It’s one of the most original videos we’ve seen in years and it’s spell-binding at that.
By Michael Hayball
Suris is led by its two members, Lindsey and Dave Mackie, and they have a great origin story. They met at college, as some couples do, and began recording with only a tiny four track recorder. Their unique sound attracted bigwigs from Ensign Records and Polygram (!), and singer Lindsey even won a talent contest for Sky TV. This is their new single and subsequent video.
The video itself is a beautiful work, reminiscent of the “On” Video by Aphex twin. Set in the Desierto Del Tabernas, Spain, the environment itself conjures up the intimacy evoked by the singer’s warm, inviting voice. The lyrics themselves set the tone for the video. Lindsey sings in complex, intelligent ways about getting over a past lover. She sings, “After such a fire/you’d think there would be ash/Think your wrecking ball/had left me bereft/and yet my mouth is fresh….”Lindsey has an almost supernatural, witchy presence, which works with the frequent Fleetwood Mac comparisons Suris gets. She becomes conjured from the desert, along with faces and fingers made of rock and sand.
Suris is a solid group, and Absolute Zero wouldn’t be out of place on a play list of artists like Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush, Ani DiFranco, Joni Mitchell or even contemporaries like Lorde. Definitely check them out…