A gentle sweetness emerges within the deeply resonant female vocals on “Abalone,” the preview track (streaming below) from Brooklyn-based Softspot’s forthcoming album “Clearing.” While open guitar chords provide counter-melody and the simple bass line drives its rhythmic center, a churning percussive track underneath parallels the same mysterious wonderment of penultimate Kate Bush/Hounds Of Love track “Running Up That Hill.” Harmony vocals appear at crucial points within the emotional arc, dreamily elongating end of line words. At over five minutes in length, there is plenty of room for extended instrumental passages featuring bright guitar figures, deeper bass only transactions and swelling synths. An extended outro features an angular time signature that ultimately gives way to a beat-less ambience. This is an outstanding track from a full album set for a February release on Arrowhawk Records. The band will appear live at Union Pool on 1/22 as part of the (le) poisson rouge presents series with Alpenglow and Norwegian Arms. – Dave Cromwell
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!