Listen: Caveman - "Never Going Back"

photo by Philip Di Fiore

Brooklyn foursome Caveman have from their inception made music diametrically opposed to their chose band name. Where caveman recalls a rough around the edges, abrasive sound, Caveman are anything but; smooth undulating melodies, languid plod, and generally chill vibes. And maybe that's why "Never Going Back", the first single from their upcoming third album Otero War, hits so hard.

After two albums of gentle, dream pop, the harshness of the drum hits and guitar solo feels like a real invigorating step for the band. The band don't completely demolish their past work - "Never Going Back" slowly builds on the softly introduced introductory melody and the synths that characterized much of Caveman aren't far from the fray. But there's no denying a freshness in the band's newfound fervor, the band rushing forward instead of its normal expansive creep. There's no telling just yet if the band continue this way for the rest of the record but "Never Going Back" is at the very least an exciting step in a direction no one really asked the band to take; fusing what worked well for them in the increment growth between CoCo Beware and Caveman and lighting a bit of a fire underneath themselves. It's enough to peak my interest in the new album and hopefully yours too and hopefully it's not too long before the foursome reveal more cuts from the third album.



Caveman's third album Otero War will out this summer.

Caveman - "Easy Water" video

When I set about to learn about Brooklyn psych-pop quintet Caveman about two months ago, one of the things I noted was a lack of a music video. Not that that's a dealbreaker, I just expected it to be so. The band had such a mature, developed sound and precise way of doing things, I figured they'd have a video. Well, now they do. Directed by Bianca Butti, the video is all about the interplay of light of figures in water. Simple concept for a simple track and yet, done amazingly. The video is stunning to look at and goes along with the otherworldly track just swimmingly.

Enjoy the video for Caveman's "Easy Water":

Caveman - CoCo Beware (2011)

It’s pretty much a given now that anything ARMS-related, I will check out. So when We Listen For You sent out that fateful tweet a week ago that mentioned ARMS and New York City quintet Caveman’s new albums, I was all aboard.

Caveman’s debut album CoCo Beware was among the multitude of album released this past Tuesday (9/13) but it shouldn’t be buried underneath the pile of other records. While most of the other records had tons of songs that were hit or miss, Caveman’s debut is full of psych-pop gems from beginning to end. Though some of the songs are short, they go exactly where they need to go in their short duration, establishing easy breezy melodies filled with dreamy synths and primal, ever-present drums. Yet despite its psychedelic leanings, it’s an album that’s as richly engaging as the various sounds it is filled with like hazy, instrumental track “Vampirer”. Not to mention there’s one of my favorite album effects: The lead in. In a time where the concept of an album is spotty at best, two tracks linked together by a cool effect or melody that leads from one to the other will always be a good decision in my book.

CoCo Beware is an album where there’s rarely a slowdown. From the moment you hit play, it speeds along, albeit at its’ own easy-going but never boring leisure. Caveman is like a drum circle in band form. However, instead of dragging along like jam bands are apt to do, they keep things simple, precise, lucid; but also loose – allowing you to get lost in their otherworldly haze and locked in vocal harmonies. A definite must listen, must buy, and must repeat.

Give Caveman a listen with this live video of "Great Life" for Yours Truly SF featuring an actual drum circle (composed of ARMS drummer Tlacael Esparza and Hospitality bassist Brian Betancourt, to name a few):

Caveman "Great Life" is Yourstru.ly from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

CoCo Beware is also streaming on Spinner, listen here.