A collaborative duo who proceed to enthrall since forming 20 years in the past, Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz embrace an Americana route on new EP Contrapasso. Catching our ears with earlier full-lengths like The Loss We’ve Received and Solutions Belie, Anders and O’Bitz are joined on this EP by their good good friend and proficient multi-instrumentalist Mike Butler.
Quite a lot of folks instrumentations on the discharge are performed by Butler, who has collaborated with the duo beforehand, although the EP represents his most distinguished involvement so far; he additionally produced and blended the discharge. John O’Reily Jr additionally contributes his drumming abilities. The result’s a riveting assortment of songwriting, thematically poignant in its reflections on the risks of cult-like mentalities and blind allegiance to charismatic leaders
Opening monitor “Excessive on Cult Life” captivates in its escalating vocal presence and plucky guitar work, assembling right into a shifty percussive sharpness and “excessive because the solar,” vocal outpouring; the anthemic heights listed here are invigorating alongside clap-laden infusions. “Bells Toll” emits a haunting Americana arsenal, with shades of Neil Younger within the vocal presence and twangy guitar accompaniments. The debonair, southern-touched aptitude of “This Haunted Love” ignites a bluesy attract, whereas “Bought Down the Rivers” incorporates strings throughout the heartrending array of guitars and evolving vocals for a implausible send-off.
Anders selected the album title “as a result of the songs are all critiques of the American “inferno” we live in at the moment – the place Individuals are both enslaved by or oppressed by the ridiculously silly beliefs of a racist and cultish minority of lots of of tens of millions.”
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“Excessive on Cult Life” and different tracks featured this month will be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Rising Singles’ Spotify playlist.