In “new release you didn’t know you needed” news, SLC natives (and station favorites) No Sun have teamed up with New Jersey slowcore masters Pale Shade, in a split single release benefiting the Coalition Against Hunger, and the Salt Lake City Community Bond Fund. The single is unlocked on Flesh And Bone Records, releasing 27 November, likely in multiple delectable formats. And as tantalizing as that data may be, it’s in the songs and the execution that this release really shines.
No Sun polishes up a cover of “Heading For The Door”, originally unleashed by Duster, and puts their unique stamp on the proceedings. While the original was a sort of “fractured sunny”, No Sun has a characteristically darker take on the classic. The minor leads echo atop a backdrop of fuzz, clocked down to 70% speed, and injected with full-on bleak power chords at interval. The immediacy, the desperation are fully embraced, until the song decays into its watery puddle in the final third.
Pale Shade follows on with a bendy cover of “Speed Trials” by Elliott Smith, and it’s a revelation. If you’d ever passed on the Smith original due to the tentative nature of his approach, Pale Shade will remind you what a brilliant song this can be in the hands of those who’ve mastered the art. The “Shadies” broke the song apart, kept the tenderness and intimacy intact, but pulled the torrent ripcord when the song cried out for catharsis. Add the modified choral arrangement on top of the wall of fuzz, suddenly “Speed Trials” is the anthem we need to see us through the closing chapters of 2020. Bright, layered, deftly reimagined, it’s instantly inviting for fans of the genre, and sure to win new fans with a quickness.
Both of these tunes are bloody glorious, and sure to stand the test of time in our on-air rotation. Our highest recommendation.
The split from No Sun and Pale Shade available from 27 November on Flesh and Bone Records. Don’t sleep on this release, we’ll likely be crowing about it for the rest of the year. No lie.
Follow No Sun on Bandcamp and Facebook. Follow Pale Shade on Bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. And keep eyes on Flesh & Bone Records for release!
Flesh & Bone Records on November 27, 2020
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