Song of the Day: All Them Witches - Talisman

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Talisman” by All Them Witches from the 2015 album Dying Surfer Meets His Maker on New West Records.

All Them Witches - Talisman (MP3)

On their first two LPs, All Them Witches hex anyone not immediately charmed by their potent mix of gritty blues and droning psych rock, often loosed upon the masses through their raw, impassioned live shows. For their third album, the Nashville four-piece cast a different kind of spell. With their new home on the eclectic, rootsy roster of New West comes a newer sound, or at least a more expansive one. Maybe it's the influence title character's impending demise, but Dying Surfer Meets His Maker isn't all about heavy head-banging riffs and acid fueled freakouts (though it does still have a few of those), but instead journeys reminiscently down a winding path of 60's influenced psychedelia, its songs sometimes languorously hash-hazed, and other times dervishly droning or darkly pummeling. Today's featured song, "Talisman", is shamanistic vision quest, building from a slow evocation to a rousing, full possession of buzzing guitars, driving bass, swirling keys, and pulsing percussion. All Them Witches' enchantment is one you won't soon forget.

From now until next spring, you'll have plenty of opportunities to catch All Them Witches performing live in your town - unless you live in the Northwest! So far, no PNW dates have been scheduled, but keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for more updates and more music. For now, gaze upon their recently released animated video for "Dirt Preachers", another song from Dying Surfer Meets His Maker: