Daniel Rossen - Saint Nothing

“Saint Nothing” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)

The members of Grizzly Bear never seem to let me down. Daniel Rossen’s work outside of the band has been especially interesting. His early work with Department of Eagles blended electronics and psych pop into some incredible material and later they matured into something of an experimental folk act that lead to similar excellent output. Now, Warp Records is releasing an EP of Rossen’s solo material titled Silent Hour/Golden Mile and they’ve dropped the first taste in the form of the haunting, melancholic piano led number, “Saint Nothing”. On paper you would think that you would know exactly what to expect from a sad, piano ballad from one of the Grizzly Bear guys, but you’d be underestimating Rossen’s talent. While the song is a gorgeous, must-listen on those merits, the real sell is the incredible production and multi-instrumental flourishes that are peppered throughout (the horn section and soft, jazz structure drums are especially gorgeous). I can’t say enough good about this song. Highest possible recommendation. 

ROSTAM - Wood

“Wood” by Rostam // Wood (2011)

Rostam Batmanglij has often been cited as the major creative force behind Vampire Weekend’s musical direction and hearing his work in Discovery (with Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot) and now this, a solo piece, it’s easy to see why. He’s got a solid grip on how to take the many varying sounds of world music and turn them into whimsical, exciting pop songs. This new solo track (posted earlier on his Tumblr) has a sweet, eastern rhythm carrying it’s sound throughout an extended intro and into a quiet, lovely vocal melody that borders on being hypnotic. It doesn’t sound like a far cry from the work with his other bands, but there’s an assured confidence here that gives it a classical, film score vibe (it definitely would be at home in any late-era Wes Anderson film). Apparently, there’s more sounds on the way, and with a little luck we might be in store for a full album’s worth of this sort of material. 

(download)  Rostam’s “Wood” (via Soundcloud)

Dustin O'Halloran - We Move Lightly

dustin o’halloran - WE MOVE LIGHTLY

Here’s something beautiful for the end of your night. I first found O’Halloran through his contributions to Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette”, but his full lengths have sucked me in with some truly amazing instrumentals. This one in particular, from his new album, “Lumiere” is all haunting piano and strings that seem to slowly creep in from some lonely room down the hall. It’s a wonderful bit of work, as is the entire album.

*Featured on The Afterglow: Episode 35