Niki N. Phaser

It’s still unclear what kind of music does Califone play, but it doesn’t really matter as long as it sounds like this wonderful song, Bottles & Bones (Shade & Sympathy). This Chicago outfit of proggies dable in some sort of experimental folk, mostly acoustic, but also with some electric shades here and there. They seem like a bunch of guys who work the fields the first six days of the week and then, on Sunday, they gather on someone’s porch and start jamming. No commercial pressure whatsoever – absolute freedom. And Bottles & Bones (Shade & Sympathy) sounds exactly like that. The emotions which transpire through this song are 100% sincere, musically that is (the ooohhh’s of the chorus will make you ponder on your existential loneliness, wherever you are). The lyrics outline a strange universe, dangerous and degraded: “Nervous john, Rescues all the whores” (Taxi Driver ???), “Aching to get your pocket picked” or “Clouds of angels liquored pink and underage”. It kinda sounds like Kurt Cobain faked his suicide just to retire somewhere with no electricity and release unrehearsed songs under the name Califone. Still, the song was written by Tim Rutili, the founder of Califone. In case it sounds familiar, you should know that Bottles & Bones (Shade & Sympathy) was featured on the Will Ferrell movie Stranger Than Fiction, contributing like 60 % to the film’s profoundness.

LISTEN TO THIS EXPERIMENTAL SONG HERE

Muse finally announced a release date for The Resistance, their new album. It is the 14th of September this very year. Even before there were any solid news about their new musical efforts, fans were buzzing at the possibility of the boys working on new material. Then, details slowly emerged and it seems they are planning to break the moulds once again, threatening us with “the hardest song ever” or big orchestral manoeuvres, never before seen. Considering their past, I think we should take them seriously and brace ourselves for some postmodern progressive rock.

Even drummer Dominic Howard is complaining about the size of these new things. Talking about learning to play the new setlist live he ponders “That should take a while“. No doubt about it, the wait will be worthwhile. The release date being in the beginning of the autumn and grand tours to follow, we are entitled to be expecting a single this summer. Hopefully, they woun’t break the moulds so much, as to not release a single. In fact, a free download is also in the fashion nowadays. Let’s hope they know that.