Song of the Day: Surf City - Dickshaker’s Union

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is Dickshakers Union by Surf City from their 2009 Surf City EP on Morr Music.

If the featured song title doesn’t peak your interest, you are either overly sensitive or lacking in the mental imagery department. Either way, this New Zealand quartet deserves your attention. Formerly going by Kill Surf City, the band decided to ditch the overt Jesus & Mary Chain reference due to possible sticky situations with other bands of the same name. Fortunately for listeners, there’s plenty of JAMC left in the band without the title. Their 6-song EP is full of tracks ranging from straight forward psych rock to ultra fuzzy and layered shoegaze. Yes, with Surf City it’s all about guitar all the time, but never at the expense of melody. Strings layer and drums pummel, but with attentiveness similar to Animal Collective, the songs build to their pleasant and well timed conclusions.

The band has no tour dates on the books, but all releases like this one lead to somewhere. Be on the lookout for their inevitable stateside stampede. Meanwhile, enjoy this video for Dickshakers Union: