photo by Jaclyn Campanaro
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 selection, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Flat Earth” by BRAINSTORM from their 2012 album Heat Waves on Tender Loving Empire.
Experimental-pop group BRAINSTORM is not afraid of wearing their influences on their sleeve. Wrapping up an eclectic range of soul to Highlife to blissful indie-pop in a neat Portland trio, BRAINSTORM is an incredible breath of fresh air in the often stagnant world of indie-rock. Three years after their inception and mountains of press later, including tours with Tame Impala, Thee Oh Sees, The Thermals, and Portugal, The Man, BRAINSTORM’s latest effort Heat Waves is one of this year’s most original albums. “Flat Earth” is a surprisingly intricate sum of incredibly simple parts. Between a plain arrangement of plenty of “Oh Ohs,” sharp guitar riffs, and masterfully layered vocals, the song slowly crescendos into a foot-stomping and cheerfully howling chorus.
BRAINSTORM have a couple of scattered show dates up and down the West Coast over the next month, but in the meantime be sure to check out their goofy, live, and tuba-filled performance of “Flat Earth” below:
Brainstorm from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.
One Comment
Great song of the day, my most favorite in some time. Sounds like Grizzly Bear a bit.