True to their name, The Black Heart Procession is probably one of the darkest bands to emerge from sunny San Diego and their upcoming release, Six, shows no sign of a break in the clouds. After the unfortunate demise of the their former label, Touch and Go (see “Things are Touch and Go for Touch and Go”), the band put out an SOS on its Myspace page seeking “anyone who wants to release the new black heart record.” Temporary Residence, Ltd., a Brooklyn-based label, came to the rescue and has since put out releases from hometown compadres, Pinback, as well as singer/guitarist Pall Jenkins’ other band, Three Mile Pilot.
The 13 cuts on the scheduled October 6 release portend a heavy experience with names like “Suicide”, “Drugs” and “Back to the Underground.” Time to buy futures in Eli Lilly stock to profit from the ensuing spike in Prozac sales. As a teaser, the band has pre-released “Rats”, a moody Nick Cave-ish ditty about life in a seedy town. “I see the pimps, I see the whores, I see the thieves outside your doors…” Clearly not San Diego, and apparently the band’s time in Portland is bearing lyrical fruit.
Amore del Tropico (the band’s 4th album) continues to wield influence on their current sound with heavier syncopation and a more complex, layered aesthetic. According to the band, more details on the forthcoming CD will be out in the next few weeks. When you’re tired of squealing kids out in the summertime sun and fresh air, shut the windows, lower the shades and reach for this slab of gloom to sink you into a satisfying state of perpetual melancholy.
MP3 :::
The Black Heart Procession – Rats
