Joel X Eleanor – Garden Plot / Something Strange (2026)
Beginning as the rock band Sweet Anna, earning a strong following in the London underground scene, Joel Habel-Townsend and Eleanor Habel-Townsend bonded over a zealous desire to make impactful, enduring and kaleidoscopic music. Now, emerging as the alternative duo Joel X Eleanor, the pair find that sweet spot between 90s alternative rock, grunge and indie-rock. Descriptive, distinctive, emotional and poetic, the pair have a mission to bring kaleidoscopic, fun, entertaining attitudes to a world of drab, dull, stagnating despair. The pair share: “We come from drab, colourless backgrounds – a world of beige carpets, mouldy windows and concrete apartment blocks… but we make our lives liveable by making music that’s the polar opposite of where we come from. We want to touch the lives of others just like us.”
Following their single ‘Edge of Victory’, Joel X Eleanor intrigues us with their two-track EP, ‘Garden Plot / Something Strange’. Produced by Joel and Eleanor, with mixing and mastering by Julie Bartley, the songs unpick romance and relationships, each bringing an alternative perspective; ‘Garden Plot’, a darker, almost obsessive side, and ‘Something Strange’, a gentler, more vulnerable counterpoint.
Joel on the instruments and Eleanor on vocals, ‘Garden Plot’ has a grungy attitude with some classic rock leanings. A steady drum anchors listeners, while layered synths shimmer in the tune. A soaring guitar met by a bold bass brings the rock flavour, with the interspersed percussion inserting an odd, almost tribal but twinkling feel. What I find interesting is how ‘Something Strange’ lyrics lean toward something more sincere, but despite being a vulnerable look at love, it seems to have a darker, heavier, hard-hitting feel as compared to ‘Garden Plot’. The stand-out feature in the EP, at least for me, is Eleanor’s vocals. Gritty, rugged and rough, but with a hidden warmth bringing raw, passionate emotion to each track.
So, what’s my overall opinion of Joel X Eleanor? I’m undecided. A great listen if you’re a fan of Hole and Radiohead; however, something is missing, leaving the tracks wanting for me. I recommend Joel X Eleanor, but I’m unsure if I’ll be hitting the repeat button.
In addition to the EP, Joel X Eleanor released official music videos for both ‘Garden Plot’ and ‘Something Strange’. You can view each below and/ or on their YouTube channel. Please note that these videos use lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
And ‘Something Strange’:
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Joel X Eleanor on their official website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by LPR Agency.
