Listen: Forager - "Pomeranian"

photo by Isabelle Zhao

As distrustful as I am of any algorithm trying to serve me new music, every now and again the right song snippet manages to slip through my defenses and sends me on a quest for more. Such is the way I discovered self-described kaleidoscopic pop trio Forager. A video detailing how they use changing time signatures to give one of their new singles "Pomeranian" a sense of slowing down had me instantly intrigued and the little bit of the hook I heard had me quickly looking up if the song was even out yet. Thankfully for me it was and the subsequent four or so minutes not only had me hooked immediately but had pressing repeat countless times. 

What struck me the most about Forager and "Pomeranian" specifically, aside from, obvious the math rock breakdowns and shifting time signatures, was both a sense of freshness and familiarity. As I listened to "Pomeranian" for maybe the third or forth time I was reminded of Romantic Images era Molly Burch and the bank's jazzy funk inflected grooves reminded me of fellow New York based band Crumb. And yet, Forager are more than just a band that reminds you of other things you already like. They manage to distill a variety of different musical influences into songs that while incredibly intricate also maintain a sense of simplicity and ease. Part of that lies in their songwriting and the richness of Shyamala Ramakrishna's vocals. There's no denying a retro pop feel as Ramakrishna sings "You've got the right touch of vintage, a layer of grit". "Pomeranian" is a playful psychedelic infused pop romp simultaneously calling bullshit on taste curation/branding and poking fun at one's own attempts to do. "Ask me how I got it, from eBay in Japan, I hate consumerism, leave the boxes for the doorman" Ramakrishna sings before following up with a lyric about living off the land. Couple that with the band leaving in all the production moment of them starting up and practically unraveling during one of their shifting time signature moments and you have a song that doesn't take itself too seriously while balancing astute, poignant lyricism. It's effortlessly catchy and is sure to stay with you long after you've hit play.  

 

"Pomeranian" is the first single from Forager's forthcoming sophomore album Even a Child Can Cover the Sun with a Finger, out February 27th of next year.

Listen: Landlady - "The Car Alarm"/"The Shaky Hand"

 

photo by Graham Tolbert

 

 

Landlady is back! The music project of singer/songwriter/saxophonist/jack of all tradesman Adam Schatz and his illustrious group of friends have announced their latest release, following up 2021's self-titled. A song cycle, according to Schatz, "The Car Alarm" and "The Shaky Hand", the lead singles from Landlady's forthcoming fifth full length album Make Up / Lost Time, hint at the seamlessness of the album. Growing around a simple minor arpeggio sequence, there's a sense of unease before Adam Schatz utters his first words: an equally unsettling repetitive series of "no's" before he tethers them into a narrative. "No cause for alarm, we bet the farm, we've phoned for a ride home". Schatz's songwriting has always flourished in the unexpected and "The Car Alarm" is no exception as a tale of getting lost on the road is elevated to a practically nail-biting experience. Musically, it oscillates between optimism and despair, hope and hopelessness, and crests with the sublime harmonies of Kristin Slipp and Star Busby. As "The Car Alarm" reaches a fever pitch with Schatz crooning "I don't fear the dark, I fear no one when you ride shotgun", the shuffle into "The Shaky Hand" could almost be missed. 

 

If "The Car Alarm" built on a growing sense of anxiety, "The Shaky Hand" is its inverse, briskly moving with unfettered jubilation as Schatz and company's "Cancel all your plans" repeats with string flourishes from Macie Stewart and Lia Kohl. Considering how fluidly the tracks blend together, it's unsurprising Landlady opted to released them together. While they can be enjoyed separately, they're enjoyed simultaneously as Schatz "Belt it into the mirror again" and "Going to beat the traffic again" later in the track have you wondering if "The Shaky Hand" takes place in the same car as "The Car Alarm". It's not until Schatz's repeats "Beat ourselves to the promise land" that really buttons the songs' interconnectedness. Schatz's lyricism often pairs humor and poignancy and "The Shaky Hand" illustrates why. A sort of introvert anthem, when Schatz sings "Winning bid to leave before the party dies, we'd be wise to leave before the party dies", it's not hard to imagine the song's character trying to leave a party early. Is it about knowing the right time to leave? Or leaving when you're ready to go? "The Shaky Hand" leaves it open especially with lyrics like "Call it ancient intuition or a consolation prize, we'd be wise to leave before the party dies". It might also be about leaving a party early enough to avoid getting stuck in traffic. The jury is still out. It's a dazzling taste of what the 17 track song cycle has to offer and in the hands of Schatz and his multitudes of collaborators, it's likely just the beginning.

 

 "The Car Alarm" and "The Shaky Hand" are the second and third tracks from Landlandy's upcoming album Make Up / Lost Time out June 6th. You can pre-order the album now on digital or tape/LP.