Brooklyn rave rockers My Best Fiend have been around since 2005, and their persistence got recently rewarded with a record deal with UK forward looking label Warp. In their Warp debut "Ghostlike Fading" the band puts an almost spiritual twist on a sound that introduces itself quietly, only to erupt into a full-on psyched-out jam. The single "Cracking Eggs" starts out with gently strummed acoustic guitar and stark, spacious piano chords, while emotive vocals sing about "the crack in the egg that provides relief." It’s not long before full band pomp and stomp fills the sonic spectrum as harsh textures lift the listener into the clouds. Another favorite song, "Higher Palms" (streaming below) turns to an electric piano for keyboard figures, as full instrumentation is then added in, creating a high western plains feel. Vocals are layered and embedded in hallways of reverb, enhanced by synthesized textures extending the tones. Guitars join in from multiple angles, merging with the rising sonic tide without obscuring the defined rhythm. – Dave Cromwell
