Wye Oak - "Lifer"

Yesterday Baltimore duo Wye Oak released “Lifer,” the third single from their upcoming album The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs. The LP drops next week via Merge and follows 2016's Tween.

The airy piano and vocals, and echoing guitar on “Lifer” may not stand out in the indie rock field, but the song is undeniably pretty. The distorted guitar solo late in the track is a pleasant and intriguing surprise that gives the song more personality.

Wye Oak will kick off their European tour on April 19 after playing the Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City, Iowa. The band will start their North American tour on May 9 in Asheville, North Carolina.

-Owen Murray

Wye Oak - "Running Up That Hill"

Watch: Wye Oak - "Running Up That Hill" Baltimore duo Wye Oak just released their fourth album, the subdued Shriek, which dropped all the guitar and swapped it for bass, accompanied by the usual (but toned down) drums and keys. Now, the duo have done a live cover for The AV Club of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill". It's been covered many times, but the pair make it a slow and slinky little jam, with just enough sensuality to sell it. Front woman Jenn Wasner bursts into a short, distorted bass bridge and sings it with that little twinge of soulfulness she's always had lingering in the back of her throat, while Andy Stack keeps pace and lays out the chilly synths nicely. It may not quite reach the heights of Bush's seminal single, but it works well as a companion to their recent shift in sound.

Shriek is out now via Merge.

Flock of Dimes- "Curtain"

Based on her prolific output, multiple side projects, and rigorous touring schedule, it’s safe to say that creating music is Jenn Wasner’s raison d’être. The latest offering from her Flock of Dimes solo project is the captivating “Curtain,” her second single under the monicker. Wasner’s discerning taste in sounds is impeccable as always, incorporating a wondrous array of unique synthesizers and vocal effects that infuse her already astounding voice with an almost angelic magic. With a surging synth appearing at just the right moments and handclaps during the final chorus, “Curtain” is a track with a multitude of details but never cluttered. With the stirring Wye Oak, the adventurous Flock of Dimes solo venture, and a collaborative pop project with Jon Ehrens called Dungeonesse, music fans can expect to hear much more of Wasner’s eclectic songwriting in the future.

You can preorder the “Curtain”/”Apparition” 7” through the good folks over at Merge Records.